When investors think of ASX consumer staples shares, two names dominate.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

Both sell products households need in every economic climate, and both generate mountains of cash. But they are not identical investments.

So which one looks the better buy today? Let’s compare them.

The share price story

The two giants have travelled very different paths in 2026.

Woolworths shares have staged a strong recovery this year.

They are up around 32% year to date. By contrast, Coles has been steadier, rising roughly 6% over the same period.

That rally has left Woolworths looking pricier.

As a result, the broker Bell Potter recently held a cautious view on the stock, setting a price target of $35.50, slightly below the share price at the time of writing.

Comparing these ASX consumer staples on dividends

Income investors often buy supermarkets for their reliable dividends. Here, the picture is interesting.

Analysts expect Coles to issue fully-franked dividends of 75.5 cents in FY26 and 82 cents in FY27. At the time of writing, that FY27 forecast implies a yield of about 3.6%.

Woolworths is tipped to pay 99.5 cents in FY26 and $1.13 in FY27. That works out to a forward yield closer to 2.9% at the time of writing.

On the headline numbers, Coles offers the more attractive yield. But income is only part of the story.

Growth and quality

Coles has been executing well.

The company has grown its earnings steadily and kept a tight grip on costs. Investors have long valued its consistency and defensive earnings base.

Woolworths remains the larger business. Its scale gives it advantages in buying and distribution, and recent results suggest margins are stabilising after a tough patch.

So the choice is really about style.

Woolworths is priced for a recovery and scale. Coles is priced for steady income and discipline.

Foolish Takeaway

Both Coles and Woolworths are high-quality ASX consumer staples shares. Both hold dominant positions in a defensive industry.

Right now, Coles arguably looks the better value on dividends and steadiness. Woolworths offers more upside if its turnaround keeps building.

Neither is a bad long-term option for a defensive portfolio.

For income-focused investors, these ASX consumer staples remain two of the most watchable names on the market.

The post Coles vs. Woolworths. Which ASX consumer staples stock is the best buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?

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.

If you are 55 and wondering whether your superannuation is on track, you are not alone.

It is one of the most common questions Australians ask.

The good news is that there are clear benchmarks to aim for. The less good news is that many people fall short.

Let’s break it down.

What a comfortable retirement actually costs

The most widely used benchmark comes from the ASFA Retirement Standard.

This tool estimates what retirees actually spend.

According to this standard, a single homeowner needs about $54,240 a year for a comfortable lifestyle. A couple needs roughly $77,375 a year.

To fund that, ASFA suggests a lump sum of around $630,000 for a single person.

Couples need about $730,000 between them.

Both figures assume you own your home and draw a part Age Pension.

How much superannuation you need at 55

Here is the important part.

Those targets apply at retirement age, which is typically 67. At 55, you still have time on your side.

You generally cannot access your superannuation until age 60, and the Age Pension does not kick in until age 67.

So a 55-year-old has roughly a decade of compounding still to come.

That is quite important. Money invested today has years left to grow. A balance that looks light at 55 can still reach the target by 67.

The catch is that many Australians are behind.

Typical balances in the 55 to 64 age bracket sit well below the ASFA figure.

Building your superannuation from here

If you are behind, you have several levers to pull.

Salary sacrificing extra into superannuation is one of the most powerful. Concessional contributions are taxed at just 15% for most people, which is well below most marginal tax rates.

Making sure your money is invested sensibly is just as important. Many funds let you choose your investment mix.

Some investors also hold ASX shares and funds directly.

One popular option is the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS). This ETF tracks the 300 largest companies on the ASX, giving you instant diversification in a single trade.

VAS also pays regular dividends, which can be reinvested to compound over time.

Low-cost index funds like VAS are a common building block for growth-focused portfolios.

They are simple, cheap, and broadly diversified.

Foolish Takeaway

So how much superannuation does a 55-year-old need?

Aim for the path to roughly $630,000 as a single, or $730,000 as a couple, by age 67.

The exact number depends on your lifestyle, health, and whether you own your home.

At 55, the decisions you make now still count for a lot.

Contribute more where you can. Invest for growth while you still have time. And check in on your superannuation regularly.

The post How much super does a 55-year-old need to retire comfortably? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Coles vs. Woolworths. Which ASX consumer staples stock is the best buy?
• If I invest $10,000 in Westpac shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• Here’s why I’d buy and hold CSL and Cochlear shares for 10 years
• The superannuation portfolio that lets you retire at 60, not 67
• 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7%

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.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares may be one of the most popular options for dividends on the ASX due to the company’s perceived stability and dividend yield.

The ASX bank share typically has a larger dividend yield than competitors like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), which remains the case. It also usually has a similar dividend yield to stocks like ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB).

Thankfully, Westpac has increased its payout substantially since 2020, when it was forced to reduce it.

The bank’s dividend grew again in the FY26 half-year result as the business delivered a slight 1.3% rise of the dividend per share to 77 cents. This was funded by a 1% increase of the underlying net profit after tax (NPAT).

In this article, we’re going to look at Westpac’s potential 2027 financial year annual dividend, which will be paid during 2027.

2027 dividend projection for owners of Westpac shares

According to Commsec’s projection, the ASX bank share is expected to pay an annual dividend per share of $1.55 in FY27. That would represent a year-over-year increase of less than 1%. But growth is growth.

At the time of writing, this forecast translates into a dividend yield of 4.25% excluding franking credits and 6.1% including franking credits.

If someone were to invest $10,000 in Westpac, they would be able to buy 274 Westpac shares, with a little bit of cash left.

With those 274 Westpac shares, investors may receive $424.70 of cash dividends and $606.71 overall, including the franking credits.

Is this a good time to invest in the ASX bank share?

According to CMC Invest, there have been nine analyst ratings calls on the business in the last three months.

Of those nine, six of them were a sell and three of them were a hold. Therefore, the investment professionals are mostly negative about the appeal of the ASX bank share’s valuation right now.

The average price target of those nine ratings is $32.70. That means, collectively, those analysts are projecting the Westpac share price could drop by around 10% within the next year.

The Westpac share price was last that low in July 2025 – within the last 12 months – so it’s not crazy to think the bank could drop back to that level.

For now, there seem to be more appealing ASX shares out there to buy.

The post If I invest $10,000 in Westpac shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?

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