Investors who want to earn an easy passive income should consider ASX dividend shares.

There are several options out there. A blue-chip stock could yield anywhere from around 2%, up to riskier high-yield dividend shares which pay out closer to 8% or 10%. Sometimes they pay even more.

If you have the appetite for risk, high-yield shares could provide much higher returns. But only if you know where to look.

Here are two of my picks when it comes to high-yield ASX dividend shares, and they both pay a yield around 8%.

Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX)

Atlas Arteria is a global owner, operator, and developer of toll roads, with a portfolio of five toll roads in France, Germany, and the United States. The company was created out of the reorganisation of Macquarie Infrastructure Group in 2010.

The company’s main asset is a roughly 31% stake in Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhone, or APRR. APRR owns concessions to toll more than 2,300 kilometres of motorways in eastern France, most ending in late 2035. The company also wholly owns the Dulles Greenway toll road in the US state of Virginia.

As a toll road operator, Atlas Arteria is a classically defensive infrastructure asset. People will continue to rely heavily on essential infrastructure regardless of what point of the economic cycle we’re in. 

ASX shares like toll roads are also long-duration assets which have visible cash flows across a long period of time. They’re also more reliant on contract renewals and can benefit from toll road increases. They’re not only reliant on traffic growth.

Atlas Arteria typically pays its shareholders two unfranked dividends a year, in April and October, with payments dating back to 2013.

It most recently paid a 20 cent unfranked final dividend to shareholders in April, which equated to a total 40 cent dividend for the year. At the time of writing, that translates to a dividend yield of around 8.1%.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

Beach Energy produces oil and natural gas from numerous joint venture projects across Australia and New Zealand. Key projects include its onshore Cooper and Eromanga Basin project, which is recognised as Australia’s most prolific oil and gas-producing basin. The project accounts for a substantial slice of the company’s total production. 

Founded in 1961, Beach Energy has expanded through a long series of mergers and acquisitions. It has ownership interests in strategic oil and gas infrastructure and assets, as well as a suite of exploration permits.

Unlike Atlas Arteria, Beach Energy is considered a more cyclical asset, which means the ASX shares can fluctuate depending on commodity prices and what part of the economic cycle we’re in. But the benefit of a cyclical stock is that they tend to outperform during times of recovery.

Beach Energy typically pays shareholders two fully-franked dividends per year, in March and September, with payments dating back to 2005.

It most recently paid an unfranked interim dividend of 1 cent per share in March and announced a 2 cents per share final dividend earlier this month. At the time of writing, that translates to a dividend yield of around 8%.

The post 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These ASX 200 shares could generate $10,000 per year in passive income
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• How much is needed in superannuation for $2,000 in weekly passive income?

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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.2% to 9,093 points amid a big day of earnings releases on Tuesday.

Let’s take a look at some new expert ratings.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

The Wildcat Resources share price is 40 cents, down 5.4% today and up 101% over 12 months. 

Arthur Garipoli from Dolphin Partners has a buy rating on this ASX 200 lithium share. 

On The Bull this week, Garipoli explained:

This Western Australian explorer is advancing the Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum project, which is a large-scale, hard rock development in an established mining jurisdiction with low sovereign risk and close to Port Hedland infrastructure.

The recent share price fall may represent a good entry opportunity for investors looking for a recovery in lithium markets and in a company with near term catalysts.

WC8 has completed a pre-feasibility study. A large resource base and an upcoming definitive feasibility study de-risks the company.

In our view, WC8 represents a compelling risk-reward scenario.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Centuria Industrial REIT shares are $3.04, down 0.2% today and down 9% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter has a hold rating and $3.35 price target on this ASX real estate investment trust (REIT).

Analyst Andy MacFarlane said:

CIP announced its FY26 result with FFO / share of 18.2c slightly below BPe (-2%) and Visible Alpha consensus (-1%), and at the bottom end of its guidance range.

FY27 guidance provided for FFO / share range of 18.8c – 19.2c (BPe 18.3c; VA consensus 18.7c) and DPS of 17.3c (BPe 16.8c, VA consensus 17.0c).

A solid result for CIP with some plus and minuses, but ultimately the forward earnings outcome to be driven by two leasing campaigns, as it navigates higher CoD which will increase again into FY28 (all else equal) as it explores ways to fund its growth ambitions.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour share price is $3.47, down 1.6% today and down 17% over 12 months. 

Garipoli has a sell rating on this ASX 200 consumer staples share. 

He commented on the liquor and hotel operator’s unaudited preliminary results for FY26:

Total group sales of $12.212 billion were up 1.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period. However, total group underlying net profit after tax of $363 million was down from $426 million in full year 2025.

The group expects to recognise after tax significant items, predominately non-cash, of $311 million.

The recent share price recovery since the start of June and August 13 provides an opportunity for investors to cash in some gains.

In our view, better investment opportunities exist elsewhere given recent numbers and high cost of living expenses.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Centuria Industrial REIT, Endeavour, Wildcat Resources shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $50,000 per year in passive income?
• Experts name 3 ASX shares to buy this week
• Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour, JB Hi-Fi, and New Hope shares 
• How much do I need to retire on $100,000 a year at 60?
• 1 ASX dividend stock down 27% I’d buy right now

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares are flying on Tuesday, jumping 7% to $140.90 in afternoon trade and extending their monthly gain to 17%.

Investors have welcomed the hearing-implant leader’s FY26 results, with underlying net profit landing at $322 million — right at the top end of the company’s revised guidance.

That’s a dramatic change in sentiment from April, when Cochlear shares were crushed by around 40% after management slashed its profit outlook. Despite Tuesday’s rebound, the shares remain down 46% year to date and 55% over the past 12 months.

So, what has changed?

Cochlear delivers on revised guidance

Cochlear’s FY26 numbers show a business still facing challenges, but one that’s generating strong cash and continuing to invest heavily in future growth.

Sales revenue increased 2% in constant-currency terms to $2.343 billion. Underlying net profit, however, fell 22% to $322.4 million.

The pressure on profitability was particularly visible in gross margins, which declined from 74% to 71%. Cochlear blamed the deterioration on a less favourable sales mix and production variances.

Still, there were some significant positives.

Operating cash flow surged $130 million to $368 million, while free cash flow also improved substantially. The company continued to invest aggressively in research and development, lifting R&D spending 15% as it accelerated work on its product pipeline.

That investment is already producing results.

Nexa gives investors something to cheer about

Cochlear has launched the Nucleus Nexa System, which it describes as the first smart cochlear implant with upgradeable firmware.

The product has made an impressive start. It quickly accounted for more than 95% of Cochlear’s implant sales across developed markets.

That kind of product momentum could be important as the company attempts to reignite growth in its developed markets.

However, Cochlear isn’t escaping all the pressures facing the business. Gross margins have been squeezed by a greater proportion of lower-priced products being sold in emerging markets. Softer demand in Western Europe and parts of Asia has also weighed on performance.

The company has responded by maintaining tight control over fixed costs and freeing capacity for an additional $25 million of investment in FY27.

What’s next for Cochlear shares?

Management isn’t promising a dramatic recovery overnight. Instead, it expects low single-digit revenue growth in constant-currency terms during FY27.

Underlying net profit is forecast to land between $330 million and $350 million.

Cochlear wants to accelerate adult growth in developed markets by increasing medical engagement and expanding referral pathways. At the same time, it plans to keep investing in R&D and product innovation.

The dividend remains an important part of the shareholder return story. Cochlear declared a final ordinary dividend of $1.30 per share, 85% franked, taking total FY26 dividends to $3.45 per share. That’s down 20% from the previous year.

The company will continue targeting a dividend payout ratio of 70% of underlying net profit.

Cochlear’s balance sheet also gives investors something to watch. Net cash declined, partly because of continued cloud investment and dividend payments. With net cash below management’s preferred level, the on-market share buyback remains inactive.

Gross margins are expected to remain around FY26 levels, while further restructuring costs will factor into the FY27 outlook.

The post Why are Cochlear shares flying 7% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Cochlear posts FY26 profit at top end of guidance with new product momentum
• Down 50% – Are these the best value ASX 200 shares right now?
• Reporting season half-time report: 5 lessons from August so far
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• This Warren Buffett quote is particularly relevant for ASX shares at the moment

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