With just a few hours of trade left before Friday’s closing bell, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.7% for the week, with DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) and Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) shares all falling far harder.

Here’s why investors have been bidding down the ASX 200 heavyweights this week.

Judo shares plunge on profit downgrade

Judo shares are down 2.2% in intraday trade today, changing hands for 90 cents apiece. That sees shares in the ASX 200 challenger bank down a sharp 39.9% since last Friday’s close.

All of those losses can be pinned to Thursday’s decidedly underwhelming market update.

Judo shares closed down a precipitous 40.4% yesterday after the bank increased it forecast full year FY 2026 cost of risk to between $116 million and $122 million.

And investors were overheating their sell buttons after Judo downgraded is FY 2026 profit before tax guidance to be between $163 million and $169 million. While that still represents year on year profit growth of around 30%, the revised guidance was down from prior FY 2026 profit expectations of between $180 million and $190 million.

Commenting on the downgrade, Judo Bank CEO Chris Bayliss said:

We continue to see strong underlying momentum in the business. Recent credit outcomes have been driven by a small number of customers, who we are actively working with.

DroneShield shares losing altitude

DroneShield shares also had a week to forget, though not nearly so bad a Judo shares.

Shares in the ASX 200 drone defence company are down 4.8% at time of writing, trading for $2.30 each. That sees the DroneShield share price down 16.4% since last Friday’s close.

There was no market sensitive news out this week to explain the sharp decline. Though the company did announce the appointment of retired Rear Admiral Lee Goddard as an independent non-executive director.

But investors may have been favouring their sell buttons amid expectations that the peace deal in the Middle East could impact future demand for drone defence systems.

Which brings us to…

WiseTech shares sink on new White allegations

Joining DroneShield and Judo shares on the decline this week is WiseTech.

Shares in the ASX 200 logistics software solutions company are down 1.7% at time of writing, trading for $30.85 apiece. That sees the WiseTech share price down 16.4% for the week.

WiseTech shares plunged 18.4% on Monday following concerning new media reports involving founder and executive chairman Richard White.

Investors were heading for exit following news that the Australian Federal Police are investigating White over allegedly exploiting a female employee’s immigration status and financial position and providing false information on a visa application.

The post Why DroneShield, WiseTech and Judo shares are leading the ASX 200 lower this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why 4DMedical, Centuria Capital, Judo Capital, and Worley shares are dropping today
• What on earth’s going on with Judo Capital shares?
• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
• Down almost 75%, are WiseTech shares really cheap?
• Is DroneShield the ASX growth share investors should be buying?

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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield and 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.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is paying shareholders a fully franked interim dividend of 77 cents per share today.

For many investors, this is exactly why bank shares are so popular. The major banks regularly return billions of dollars to shareholders through dividends, and these payments can form an important part of a passive income strategy.

Some Westpac shareholders will have elected to use the dividend reinvestment plan, allowing their dividend to buy more shares in the bank.

Others will receive the dividend as cash. That money could be spent, saved, or reinvested elsewhere on the ASX.

For investors wanting to use their Westpac dividends to diversify into other high-quality blue chips, the three shares below could be worth considering.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The first ASX blue chip to consider is Goodman.

Goodman gives investors exposure to logistics, industrial property, and data centres across key global markets.

These assets sit behind some of the biggest changes in the economy. Ecommerce needs warehouses close to customers, global supply chains need efficient distribution networks, and cloud computing and artificial intelligence are increasing demand for data centre infrastructure.

That gives Goodman a powerful long-term growth profile.

The company has also built a strong reputation as a developer and manager of complex property assets. This means it is not simply collecting rent from warehouses. It is helping major customers solve infrastructure problems in markets where well-located land can be scarce.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

Another option for Westpac dividend cash is ResMed.

ResMed is a medical device company focused on sleep apnoea treatment and connected respiratory care.

This gives it exposure to a large medical need. Many people with sleep apnoea remain undiagnosed, while greater awareness of sleep health could support demand for treatment over the long term.

The company’s business model also has an attractive recurring element. Patients using its devices often need masks, accessories, software support, and ongoing care. That can create repeat revenue over time and help smooth the business beyond one-off device sales.

Healthcare shares can still be volatile, but ResMed’s global market position and long-term demand drivers make it a high-quality blue chip to consider.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

A third ASX blue chip to look at is Wesfarmers. It owns a collection of strong retail and industrial businesses, including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, and its chemicals, energy and fertilisers operations.

This gives investors exposure to a diversified group with multiple ways to grow.

Bunnings remains one of the strongest retail franchises in Australia, while Kmart has built a powerful position in value-focused retail. These businesses benefit from scale, trusted brands, and a long history of disciplined execution.

Wesfarmers has also shown a willingness to invest in new opportunities and reshape its portfolio over time. That capital allocation track record is one reason investors often view it as one of the ASX’s highest-quality companies.

The post Where to invest your Westpac dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could Goodman shares rise more than 20%?
• 8 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy recommendations this week
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• How to decide whether to buy, hold, or sell a fallen ASX share
• Is the Westpac share price a buy for its 6% dividend yield?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, ResMed, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Vanguard has announced estimated distributions (dividends) for scores of its ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Friday.

The ETFs include the market’s most popular exchange-traded fund, Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

The ex-dividend date for this next lot of distributions is next Wednesday, 1 July.

Vanguard will pay investors on 16 July.

Let’s take a look.

Mid-year dividends for Vanguard ASX ETF investors

Here is a summary of the estimated distributions that Vanguard will pay investors on 16 July.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which seeks to track the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) before fees, will pay a dividend of 48.99 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) tracks the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index. The ASX VHY will pay 40.82 cents per unit.

The Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VSO) will pay 219.83 cents per unit. The VSO tracks the MSCI Australian Shares Small Cap Index.

The Vanguard Australian Fixed Interest Index ETF (ASX: VAF) tracks the Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr Index before fees. It will pay a dividend of 53.42 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Australian Property Securities Index ETF (ASX: VAP) tracks the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT Index before fees. It will pay 146.84 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Ethically Conscious Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VETH) tracks the FTSE Australia 300 Choice Index before fees. It will pay 34.38 cents per unit.

Vanguard MSCI Australian Large Companies Index ETF (ASX: VLC), which tracks the MSCI Australian Shares Large Cap Index, will pay a dividend of 26.81 cents per unit.

What about ETFs holding international shares?

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) is the largest exchange-traded fund holding diversified international shares on the ASX. It provides exposure to 1,500 stocks in developed nations ex-Australia. ASX VGS will pay 80.11 cents per unit in dividends.

The currency-hedged, version of VGS is Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF (ASX: VGAD). VGAD ETF will pay a monster dividend of 234.31 cents per unit.

The Vanguard MSCI International Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VISM) will pay a whopping great dividend of 323.31 cents per unit. The VISM ETF tracks the MSCI World ex-Australia Small Cap Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars before fees.

Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF (ASX: V500) tracks the US benchmark S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) and will pay 11.80 cents per unit.

Vanguard FTSE Europe Shares ETF (ASX: VEQ), which tracks the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars, will pay 97.91 cents per unit.

The Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG) will pay cents per unit. This ASX ETF provides exposure to 16,000 ASX and international shares. VDHG ETF will pay 121.86 cents per unit.

Vanguard Ethically Conscious International Shares Index ETF (ASX: VESG) will pay 64.45 cents per unit. This ASX ETF tracks the FTSE Developed ex Australia Choice Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars.

Monster dividends

The two biggest payers on Vanguard’s mid-year schedule of dividends are as follows.

Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Active ETF (ASX: VMIN) is an actively managed ETF invested in about 200 global shares. The ETF aims to deliver lower volatility than the FTSE Global All Cap Index (AUD Hedged), before fees. VMIN ETF will pay a monster dividend of 409.57 cents per unit.

Vanguard Global Value Equity Active ETF (ASX: VVLU) is also actively managed, and targets global value stocks drawn primarily from the FTSE Developed All Cap Index and the Russell 3000 Index. VVLU ETF will pay the largest dividend of 626.68 cents per unit.

The post Own Vanguard ASX ETFs? Here is your next dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 excellent ASX ETFs for easy buy and hold investing
• How to build a winning ASX portfolio with just 3 investments
• Which ASX ETFs are good options for a $1,000 investment?
• VAS vs VSO: Do small-cap stocks beat the ASX 300?
• 3 reasons why the VDHG ETF could be a top buy and hold investment

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.