ASX dividend shares have an income competitor for the first time in years.

The Reserve Bank left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% at its June meeting, following three increases since the start of the year.

That has pushed term deposit rates to levels Australian savers have not seen for some time.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is currently advertising a 12-month term deposit special of 5.25% per annum, with a standard 12-month rate of 4.75%.

Both are guaranteed, and deposits are protected up to $250,000 per person per institution.

So the following question is a fair one: Why own bank shares when the bank itself will pay you more for a term deposit?

The case against ASX dividend shares right now

On headline yield alone, cash wins comfortably.

Analysts expect CBA to pay a total dividend of $5.15 per share in FY26, which is equivalent to a forward yield of around 3% at the current share price.

FY27 forecasts of $5.45 per share imply about 3.2%.

A 5.25% term deposit beats both, with none of the volatility.

Term deposits also beat annual inflation, which the RBA recorded at 4.0% for the year to May.

Franking credits change the maths

The comparison is not quite complete, though.

CBA’s dividends are fully franked, which means the company has already paid 30% tax on the profits behind them.

Grossing up a 3% cash yield produces an effective pre-tax yield of roughly 4.3%.

On the FY27 forecast, that rises to about 4.6%.

For an investor in a low- or zero-tax environment, such as a pension-phase superannuation fund, those credits are refundable in full.

However, a term deposit pays the same rate for the whole term and then rolls over to whatever rates exist at the time (reinvestment risk), which is a real risk if the RBA does begin cutting in 2027.

CBA, by contrast, has delivered a rising dividend every year since 2021, meaning your yield on cost can grow over time, which a term deposit cannot do.

CBA’s most recent earnings

So what has been driving these dividend increases? To answer this question, it is worthwhile to look at the results.

CBA delivered cash net profit of $5,445 million in its FY26 half-year result, up 6% on the prior period.

The company lifted its interim dividend 4% to $2.35 per share, fully franked.

In contrast, the March quarter update was steadier. Cash net profit came in at around $2.7 billion, up 4% year on year but down 1% on the first-half quarterly average. Business lending grew 12.5%, household deposits rose 9.1%, and home lending increased 7.1%.

A $316 million loan impairment expense reflected what the bank described as heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Full-year results for CBA are due on 12 August.

Foolish takeaway: ASX dividend shares versus cash

If you need a known sum on a known date, the term deposit is the better instrument today.

But ASX dividend shares are not really competing on this year’s yield.

They are competing on the next decade of dividend growth, franking credits and capital appreciation, all of which come with the very real risk of losing money along the way.

The choice investors make should be aligned with their risk appetite.

The post Term deposits at 4.35% vs. ASX dividend shares: which one wins? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• This UK bank plans to disrupt CBA, ANZ, NAB and Westpac
• 3 reasons CBA shares are a screaming buy right now

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.

Not every ASX exchange traded fund (ETF) needs to chase the hottest theme in the market.

Sometimes the better move is to own funds that can make a portfolio stronger, broader, and less dependent on one narrow idea.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that could be worth considering in FY 2027.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF could be a strong foundation holding.

It gives investors exposure to more than 1,000 stocks across developed markets outside Australia.

That means a portfolio can look beyond the usual local mix of banks, miners, supermarkets, and property groups.

This fund owns international businesses across sectors such as technology, healthcare, industrials, consumer goods, financials, and communications.

The big advantage is that investors do not need to know which country, sector, or company will lead the next decade. They can own a broad slice of the developed world through one ASX trade, which is never a bad thing.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

The Betashares Australian Quality ETF takes a more selective approach to the local share market.

Rather than buying Australian shares simply because they are large, this fund focuses on companies with quality characteristics.

That can include stronger profitability, lower debt, and more stable earnings.

This can be an attractive way to invest locally because the Australian share market can be heavily influenced by banks and resources companies. A quality filter gives investors a different way to sort through the ASX.

The fund still provides Australian exposure, but it does so with more discipline than a plain market-cap index.

That could make it interesting for investors who like the idea of owning local shares, but want a portfolio tilted toward stronger businesses. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

Finally, the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF brings a different type of discipline.

It focuses on global companies that generate high levels of free cash flow.

That is important because free cash flow is the money left over after a company has paid the bills needed to keep the business running and growing.

Businesses with strong cash generation often have more choices. They can reinvest, strengthen the balance sheet, buy back shares, pay dividends, or ride out difficult periods without as much pressure.

This fund is not trying to own the loudest growth stories. It is looking for companies with financial strength sitting behind the share price. It was also recently recommended by the team at Betashares.

The post 3 strong ASX ETFs to buy for FY27 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Getting started with ASX ETFs? These 3 might be worth a look
• How I would turn $200,000 into an ASX retirement income portfolio
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• VAS vs VGS: Which Vanguard ETF is winning so far this year?

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 Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s been another painful session for investors in WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares.

The logistics software company’s shares tumbled 7% on Thursday to $31.48. That leaves the stock down almost 73% over the past year and close to $90 below its peak.

After such a dramatic collapse, investors are asking an obvious question: could WiseTech shares really recover from here?

Why the shares have crashed

The sell-off hasn’t been driven by a collapse in demand.

WiseTech’s flagship CargoWise platform remains one of the world’s leading logistics software solutions, used by freight forwarders, customs brokers, and supply chain operators globally. The business continues to benefit from the long-term shift towards digitising global trade.

Instead, governance concerns have weighed heavily on sentiment. Questions surrounding founder and executive chairman Richard White first emerged late last year and have continued to overshadow the company’s operational performance.

More recently, media reports that the Australian Federal Police is investigating White over alleged trafficking matters have added fresh uncertainty.

WiseTech responded by stating the reported investigation relates to White in his personal capacity.

Results could be a turning point

The next major catalyst arrives with WiseTech’s FY26 results next month.

Earlier this year, management reaffirmed guidance for revenue of US$1.39 billion to US$1.44 billion, representing growth of 79% to 85%.

The company also expects EBITDA of US$550 million to US$585 million, up between 44% and 53% on FY25.

If WiseTech meets or exceeds those targets, investors in WiseTech shares may start shifting their focus back to the company’s underlying growth rather than governance issues.

Brokers still see substantial upside

Despite the collapse, several brokers remain optimistic. Citi recently retained its buy rating, although it reduced its 12-month price target to $52 from $65.65. Even after the downgrade, that implies gains of more than 65% from current levels.

Bell Potter is even more bullish. The broker also has a buy rating and a $71.75 price target, implying the shares could more than double over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter believes WiseTech has largely missed the recent rally in ASX technology stocks because of company-specific headwinds. However, it expects those issues to gradually fade, beginning with the appointment of Raelene Murphy as chair.

Foolish takeaway

WiseTech’s underlying business continues to deliver strong growth, but governance concerns have dominated the investment story.

Whether the shares recover will likely depend less on revenue growth, which remains robust, and more on whether management can rebuild investor confidence.

Some brokers believe the upside could be enormous. Even so, after one of the ASX’s biggest share price collapses, investors should expect the road to recovery to remain volatile.

The post WiseTech shares have crashed 73%. Is this the buying opportunity of the decade? 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.