When Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) reported its full-year FY 2026 results on 13 August, investors were greeted with a 10.5% increase in the final Telstra dividend.

But if you’re looking to bank that increased passive income payout, time is running short.

Here’s what you need to know.

When do I need to own shares to score the boosted Telstra dividend?

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) telco reported some solid results for FY 2026.

Among the highlights, Telstra’s underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 4% year on year to $8.3 billion.

And on the bottom line, underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $2.5 billion was up 4.9% from FY 2025.

This saw management declare a 10.5 cents per share final Telstra dividend, franked at 90%. That’s up from the 9.5 cents per share final dividend paid out last year.

And at the recent Telstra share price of $4.73, it equates to an instant yield of 2.2%. Adding in the 10.5 cents per share interim dividend, and the stock trades on a partly franked yield of 4.4%.

Now, if you want to bank the upcoming payout, you’ll need to own Telstra shares at market close on Tuesday. The ASX 200 stock trades ex-dividend on Wednesday, 26 August. You can then expect to be paid on 24 September.

Commenting on the Telstra dividend, CEO Vicki Brady said:

The final dividend is consistent with our Capital Management Framework, and our aim to deliver a sustainable and growing dividend. Our dividend is supported by strong cash earnings, and our Connected Future 30 ambition remains to deliver mid-single digit growth in cash earnings.

Should you buy Telstra shares today?

Red Leaf Securities’ John Athanasiou recently analysed the outlook for Telstra shares (courtesy of The Bull).

“Telstra’s investment case has improved materially, supported by a stronger mobile business, better earnings momentum and improving shareholder returns,” he said.

According to Athanasiou, who issued a hold recommendation on Telstra:

Its mobile network remains the company’s key competitive advantage, providing pricing power, scale and dependable cash generation. The market has increasingly recognised Telstra’s defensive qualities, which, we believe, are reflected in the share price.

Telecommunications also remains a capital intensive industry, requiring significant ongoing investment to maintain network leadership.

As for the Telstra dividend, Athanasiou noted:

For existing shareholders, the combination of relatively stable earnings, dividends and a strong mobile franchise remains attractive. However, for new investors, the upside appears less compelling after a recent re-rating.

The post Looking to bank the boosted Telstra dividend? You better hurry! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

The Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) share price is in focus today after the online retailer surpassed $1 billion in Gross Sales for FY26, delivering 12% growth and a fully franked final dividend of 8.0 cents per share.

What did Kogan report?

• Gross Sales: $1,042.3 million, up 12% year on year
• Total Revenue: $510.7 million, up 5%
• Adjusted EBITDA: $41.8 million, up 14%
• Statutory NPAT: $11.2 million (no comparable figure provided)
• Final dividend: 8.0 cents per share, fully franked; total FY26 dividend up 14.3% to 16.0cps
• Cash balance: $36.4 million, with no debt as at 30 June 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Kogan.com continued its margin expansion and operating leverage, with adjusted EBITDA margin improving to 10.6% and gross margin reaching 43.5%. The business rolled out AI-driven processes across customer care, product, and operations, boosting efficiency and helping to keep costs down even as revenue grew.

Mighty Ape, Kogan’s New Zealand subsidiary, showed positive signs after a major operational reset, delivering positive adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of FY26. Key improvements included reducing inventory levels and fixed costs, and a focus on higher-margin platform sales.

The group increased its investment in marketing and returned $34.9 million to shareholders through dividends and an on-market share buy-back. Board succession and management remuneration updates were also flagged, with two long-standing directors set to retire and transition later in 2026.

What did Kogan management say?

Founder and CEO Ruslan Kogan said:

Everything we do starts with our customers. Our focus is simple: find ways to deliver them more value; through better prices, a broader range of products and services, and an increasingly compelling shopping experience… As we become more efficient and profitable, we can reinvest those benefits back into our customer proposition, creating a powerful cycle of better value, stronger loyalty and a better business.

What’s next for Kogan?

Kogan Group says it is well positioned for disciplined growth in FY27, aiming for further expansion in its products division, higher-margin platform-based sales, and increased efficiency through AI and automation. At Mighty Ape, the priority will be to leverage its streamlined operations for sustainable, profitable sales in New Zealand.

The group highlighted a positive start to FY27, with unaudited July 2026 sales up 9% and revenue up 6% on the prior year, reflecting solid momentum.

Kogan share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Kogan shares have risen 8%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which is flat over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Kogan surges past $1 billion in sales as margins grow appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Bell Potter rates these ASX dividend shares with 5% to 8% yields as buys
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• GDI Property Group launches 5% buyback driven by liquidity boost
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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 Kogan.com. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Kogan.com. 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 summary of the company announcement. 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.

There are a lot of ASX dividend shares for investors to choose from.

So many, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy above others.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at two dividend shares that Bell Potter has given buy ratings to this morning.

Here’s what the broker is recommending to clients:

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT)

Bell Potter believes that this data centre-focused REIT could be an ASX dividend share to buy now.

It was pleased with its performance in FY 2026 and thinks its growth outlook is very positive, which bodes well for dividends. It said:

While guidance for FY27 EBITDA came in below our and consensus estimates, material capex spend with associate customer LOIs points to earnings ramp up in FY28 as billing comes on line which should support the growing dividend in FY27(+25%), and into FY28 with prior potential capital return plans now appearing more multi year DPS growth oriented. We see valuation support trading at a -28% discount to NTA with an earnings growth pathway ahead next few years.

Bell Potter is forecasting dividend yields of 5.9% in FY 2027, 7.3% in FY 2028, and then 8.3% in FY 2029.

The broker currently has a buy rating and $3.35 price target on its shares.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

Another ASX dividend share that has been given the thumbs up by Bell Potter is agricultural property company Rural Funds.

The broker notes that Rural Funds delivered an FY 2026 result that was broadly in line with its expectations.

And while its guidance for FY 2027 was short of expectations, Bell Potter still sees significant value in its shares at current levels. It said:

Our Buy rating is unchanged. FY27e guidance was disappointing, with the underperformance driven by farming returns (a 6-7% headwind against AFFO). While disposing assets in excess of book is a positive, there remains ~$356m in assets under development and either entering a lease or exiting these assets is realistically the only way to remove the agricultural volatility (on which there is limited granularity) inherent in the earnings base and bridge the gap to market NAV.

Bell Potter is forecasting dividend yields of 5.6% in FY 2027, FY 2028, and FY 2029. 

The broker has a buy rating and $2.55 price target on Rural Funds’ shares.

The post Why Bell Potter rates these ASX dividend shares with 5% to 8% yields as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I’m planning to buy this cheap ASX stock next!
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $5,500 monthly passive income?
• Rural Funds Group FY26 earnings: Asset sales boost profit
• DigiCo Infrastructure REIT posts FY26 earnings beat, outlines expansion plans

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