ASX share prices are always changing. Some analysts see upside ahead for certain ASX shares.

Based on expert price targets, there are a few stocks that could deliver returns of more than 60% in the next 12 months. A price target is where brokers think share prices will be in a year, though that’s not a guarantee of future returns.

Let’s look at two of the most exciting prospects.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero is one of the world’s leading cloud accounting businesses, with a focus on small and medium enterprises (SME). Its main markets are Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US.

According to CMC Invest, there have been three analyst ratings on the ASX share in the last three months. Two of those analyst ratings calls were a buy and one was a hold.  

The price target of the three ratings is $106.81, which implies a possible rise of 84.6% at the time of writing. Even a return of half of that scale would be very impressive.

Xero’s underlying numbers continue to be impressive, though Melio-related costs led to lower net profit in FY26.

During FY26, the company reported that operating revenue grew 31% to $2.75 billion following an 11% rise of customers to 4.92 million and a 23% increase in the average revenue per customer growing to $55.44.

Xero also reported that annualised monthly recurring revenue (AMRR) grew by 37% to $3.27 billion and adjusted operating profit (EBITDA) jumped 18% to $757 million.  

For FY27, operating revenue is expected to grow to between $3.62 billion and $3.73 billion, while adjusted EBITDA is forecast to rise to between $860 million and $920 million.

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)

Another ASX share currently rated positively is Nine Entertainment, a large media business. It has the Nine Network and 9Now, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review and other media assets.

According to CMC Invest, four analysts have rated the business in the last three months. Three of those ratings were buy calls, and one was a hold call.

Of those four ratings, the average price target is currently $1.11. At the time of writing, that suggests a possible rise of 62% over the next 12 months.

The company continues to deliver underlying earnings. In FY26, it reported that its continuing business achieved 3% revenue growth, 17% operating profit (EBITDA) growth and 7% net profit after tax (NPAT) growth.

The ASX share also recently announced that it had extended its Premier League rights through to 2034, which is an important driver of EBITDA growth for Stan (the streaming service).

The post 2 ASX shares tipped to grow 62% or more in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

A big dividend yield can be attractive, but the business behind it still needs to stack up.

Fortunately, there are some ASX shares offering strong income prospects alongside assets and earnings that could support distributions over the long term.

Here are three that could be worth considering.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA Group could be a strong option for income investors. It owns a huge network of energy infrastructure across Australia, including gas pipelines, processing facilities, storage assets, and electricity transmission infrastructure.

What makes APA attractive is the position these assets occupy within the energy system. Australia can build new gas fields, renewable projects, batteries, and other sources of supply, but the energy still has to reach customers. APA owns infrastructure that helps make that happen.

Its existing network can also create opportunities to connect new projects without starting from scratch each time. This gives the company a long runway to keep investing in infrastructure while generating cash flow from assets already in operation.

APA is forecast to offer a dividend yield of approximately 5.5% in FY 2027.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

Another ASX dividend share worth considering is HomeCo Daily Needs REIT.

It is a property company that owns neighbourhood retail centres, large-format retail properties, and healthcare and services assets.

A key strength of the portfolio is how often people have a reason to visit. A trip to its properties might involve buying groceries, going to the pharmacy, visiting a healthcare provider, picking up pet supplies, or using another local service.

That regular customer traffic can make these properties valuable locations for tenants and support rental demand.

This gives the company a relatively dependable rental base from which to pay dividends. Speaking of which, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT is forecast to provide a FY 2027 dividend yield of approximately 8.25%.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

A final ASX dividend share for income investors to look at is Transurban.

It owns and operates major toll roads across Australia and North America.

These assets are located in some of the busiest parts of major cities, where congestion can make faster and more reliable travel valuable to motorists.

Population growth can increase the number of vehicles using its roads, while toll increases built into many concession agreements can support revenue growth over time.

The company can also expand and improve its existing networks through new projects and upgrades.

This combination of established infrastructure, recurring toll revenue, and long concession periods leaves Transurban well-placed to pay a growing stream of dividends.

For FY 2027, Transurban is expected to offer a dividend yield of around 5.5%.

The post 3 excellent ASX dividend shares with 5%+ yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• How to build a $52,000 passive income with ASX shares
• Transurban Group share price: $4.5bn deal for bigger Sydney road stakes
• 54,543 shares of this high-yield ASX dividend stock pay an income equal to the Age Pension

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

Origin Energy vs APA Group shares: Which is better for passive income?

If you’re hunting for passive income on the ASX, it’s hard to ignore Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and APA Group (ASX: APA). Both are heavyweights in Australia’s energy landscape and have a strong tradition of paying dividends. But which delivers better value for income-focused investors, and what sets these two sector leaders apart? Here’s how I see it.

The case for Origin Energy

Origin Energy is one of Australia’s dominant integrated energy companies, generating and selling electricity and natural gas across the country. Its operations stretch from energy production (including renewables and gas) through to retailing power to millions of Aussie homes and businesses. Origin has a long history, with a business heritage dating back to 1946.

For passive income seekers, a few points leap out:

• Reliable dividends:In recent years, Origin has moved back to delivering fully franked dividends, including 60 cents per share in both 2025 and 2026—with 100% franking.
• Attractive yield: The current dividend yield sits at 5.46%, making it a strong contender versus the ASX 200 average.
• Solid valuation: With a P/E ratio of 12.04 and EPS reported at $0.912, the current share price seems reasonable for a large-cap utility.
• Full franking: Not every income stock pays fully franked dividends, but Origin’s 100% franking boosts the after-tax cash flow for local investors.

The case for APA Group

APA Group is Australia’s leading energy infrastructure company. While Origin is more involved in retailing and generation, APA is all about the pipes and wires: owning and operating a vast network of gas pipelines, electricity interconnectors, and renewable energy assets. According to its most recent company description, APA moves the majority of Australia’s natural gas, making it a backbone of the energy grid.

Here’s why APA catches the eye for income:

• Steady payouts: APA’s dividend history is one of remarkable consistency, with payments edging up very gradually over time. The most recent full-year payout sits at 58 cents per share.
• Comparable yield: On current figures, the dividend yield is 5.47%, virtually identical to Origin’s.
• Partially franked dividends: Unlike Origin, APA only partially franked its dividends—recent payments have franking levels ranging from 0% up to about one-third.
• Low earnings relative to price: APA’s P/E is 67.41, with EPS at $0.157, so investors are clearly paying a premium for its ownership of energy-channelling infrastructure.

Valuation comparison

With passive income front of mind, here’s how the key numbers stack up:

Metric	Origin Energy	APA Group
P/E Ratio	12.04	67.41
Dividend Yield	5.46% (fully franked)	5.47% (partially franked)
Dividend per share (latest full year)	$0.60	$0.58
Franking	100%	31.4%
EPS	$0.912	$0.157
Market Cap	$18.66 billion	$14.11 billion

Note: APA Group’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure than the EPS listed, given the numbers appear inconsistent.

APA’s yield and payout track Origin’s very closely, but the big distinction is franking—important for many Aussie income investors. APA’s much higher P/E suggests investors may see it as safer or more predictable, but it undoubtedly demands a higher price for each dollar of profit.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 1 October 2026:

• Origin Energy closed at $10.83, down 1.37% on the day. Its year-to-date return is 0.8%—essentially flat for 2026 so far.
• APA Group closed at $10.59, slipping 0.19% on the day. However, its year-to-date return is an impressive 21.7%, suggesting strong recent buying interest.

Both stocks have wobbled a bit in recent sessions, but APA’s stronger year-to-date share price rise is a real point of difference.

Which is the better buy?

Both Origin Energy and APA Group give passive income investors a starting yield around 5.5%. If all you want is a solid, reliable dividend, the two are neck-and-neck on headline payout.

However, I’d lean towards Origin Energy for one key reason: franking. Fully franked dividends can be a big after-tax boost, especially for investors who can use franking credits in their tax returns. APA does offer solid and dependable income, but with less franking and a much steeper P/E, there’s less value on offer in my view—at least for income-first portfolios. APA’s recent share price run and infrastructure profile will appeal to some, but if I’m picking for franked passive income, Origin’s the more compelling option right now.

The post Origin Energy vs APA Group: Which ASX dividend share wins? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 excellent ASX dividend shares with 5%+ yields
• How much superannuation do I need to earn $56,000 per year in passive income?
• How to build a $52,000 passive income with ASX shares
• 54,543 shares of this high-yield ASX dividend stock pay an income equal to the Age Pension
• APA Group unveils $1.3bn Brigalow Power Plant deal to underpin growth

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. 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 draft. 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.