Author: openjargon

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares could be an increasingly compelling pick for dividends over the next few years.

Woolworths is best known for its supermarket business in Australia – it’s the biggest operator in the country.

But, it owns a number of other businesses including the New Zealand supermarket Countdown, the business food supplier PFD, BIG W, Petstock and more. It’s better diversified than some investors may think it is.

After everything that has happened over the last few years, it’s good to look at the potential dividend income from the ASX defensive share. The company may be able to provide steadily rising payouts for investors.

FY26

The 2026 financial year has already finished, but we haven’t yet seen the FY26 result or the annual/final dividend.

The latest update we have from the business is the FY26 third-quarter update. Total third-quarter sales were up 4.5% to $18.1 billion. Within that, Australian food grew sales by 5.9% to $13.8 billion, Australian business-to-business (B2B) sales grew 4.9%, New Zealand food increased 1.4% in New Zealand dollar terms and ‘W Living’ sales rose 4.8%.

Sales growth does not automatically turn into profit growth because it depends on what’s happening with the profit margin. Woolworths’ margins will be revealed with the full-year result next month.

Underlying earnings growth can turn into a rising dividend, whether that’s this year or next year.

In the FY26 half-year result, the company grew its interim dividend by 15.4% to 45 cents per share. The projection on Commsec suggests the business could hike its annual dividend per share to 99.5 cents per share in FY26.

At the time of writing, that translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.6%, including franking credits.

FY27

We’re already in the 2027 financial year, and investors won’t have too long to wait until the next dividends come along.

Woolworths continues to work on becoming more efficient and resilient, while providing customers with “lower prices, better experiences and greater convenience”, according to the Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell.

It’ll be interesting to see how much Woolworths can grow its earnings in FY27, following the Middle East disruption. In FY26, its Australian food operating earnings (EBIT) growth is expected to be in the “mid to high single-digit range”.

The projection on Commsec suggests Woolworths’ earnings per share (EPS) and dividend per share could both rise by more than 10%.

The FY27 dividend per share is forecast to increase to $1.13, translating to a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.1%, including franking credits.

FY28

The 2028 financial year dividend could increase by more than 10% again in the 2028 financial year.

The FY28 payout could translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.7%, including franking credits. If the company’s dividend does increase to that level, then it’ll be a fairly compelling pick for passive income.

But, investors may be looking for investments that can grow earnings even faster than what Woolworths can deliver.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Coles vs. Woolworths. Which ASX consumer staples stock is the best buy?
• How to make $50,000 of passive income from ASX shares like CBA
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?
• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Woolworths, Wesfarmers shares
• 3 of the best ASX dividend stocks to supplement your superannuation

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 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.

After delivering standout returns through much of 2025 and into 2026, ASX gold shares have finally lost some of their shine. 

Supported by a surging gold price, persistent geopolitical uncertainty, and strong investor demand for safe-haven assets, many of the sector’s biggest names climbed to record or multi-year highs. 

More recently, however, a pullback in the gold price and a wave of profit-taking have seen many ASX-listed gold miners retreat from their peaks, prompting investors to weigh up whether this is simply a healthy correction or the start of a more prolonged downturn.

A new report from VanEck suggests the long-term outlook remains positive despite the recent pullback. 

Sentiment switches

Imaru Casanova, Portfolio Manager, Gold and Precious Metals, VanEck said gold has pulled back roughly 25% from January highs. 

At the end of June, the apparent end of the conflict in the Middle East further eroded gold’s safe-haven appeal, as markets shifted toward a risk-on environment and equity markets traded near recent highs. 

Gold is now trading around US$4,000 per ounce, representing an approximately 25% pullback from its January highs. However, gold stocks remain the best-performing asset class over the past year, and gold continues to outperform most other major asset classes.

There’s still gold in these hills

However, the long-term case remains supported by inflation, central bank buying and lower real rates.

Gold stocks have historically outperformed the metal itself in rising gold price environments. 

However, investors may not need to wait for the next leg higher in gold to begin increasing exposure. 

At current prices, these companies are already generating record cash flow, as Q1 2026 earnings made abundantly clear. Gold has traded at an average price of approximately US$4,700 per ounce so far in 2026. With all-in sustaining costs for the sector estimated to average below US$2,000 per ounce in 2026, margins remain very strong even at US$4,000 gold.

According to the report, this gives companies the ability to finance growth, pay dividends and repurchase shares. 

Gold stocks continue to trade at valuations that remain low relative to historical levels, while the sector appears to be in strong financial and operational health by historical standards. 

Current equity prices appear to reflect more conservative assumptions than those implied by prevailing gold prices.

If investors rotate capital away from sectors with much richer valuations, particularly against a backdrop of rising risk of a pullback, gold stocks could be beneficiaries.

How to gain exposure to gold shares

There are many individual ASX gold shares for investors to consider. 

Some of the most popular include: 

• Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) – One of the largest gold mining companies in the world 
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) – Large mining company with projects in Australia and the United States

Another option is to target gold shares using an ASX ETF. 

For example, VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) includes over 105 companies involved in the gold mining industry. 

Or, the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG) provides exposure to the price of physical Australian gold bullion rather than to gold mining companies.

The post Why gold shares remain a strong long-term option despite recent pullback: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Which ASX copper and gold stock could rocket 200%?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

Owning National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares could be a rewarding investment for the year ahead (and beyond).

Investors may normally expect a good dividend from ASX bank shares, but there’s more to the total shareholder return (TSR) than just dividends. Capital gains can be useful or even provide the majority of the return over a particular time period.

A year is a relatively short-term timeframe for investing, but that’s usually the time frame analysts consider when they give their expectations for the share price – it’s called a share price target.

Let’s look at the forecast for both the NAB share price and dividend.

Analyst projections for NAB shares

According to CMC Invest, there have been 10 ratings on the ASX bank share within the last 12 months. Of those, two were buys, four were holds, and four were sells.

Of those 10 analysts, the average price target is $36.90. At the time of writing, that implies a possible decline of around 7% over the next 12 months.

If someone had invested $10,000, the forecast decline could mean those NAB shares are only worth $9,300 in 12 months.

But don’t forget there’s also the forecast dividend. According to CommSec, the business could pay an annual dividend per share of $1.70 in FY26. While the dividend is projected to increase to $1.72 per share in FY27, I’ll be conservative and stick with the lower $1.70 dividend per share estimate.

At the time of writing, that projection translates into a forecast dividend yield of 4.3%. The TSR figure doesn’t usually include franking credits, so I won’t include it for my calculations.

The projected payout could translate into a cash payout of close to $430. That would take the overall $10,000 investment to approximately $9,700. In other words, investors could see a net loss of 3%, or approximately $300, over the next 12 months.

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

This is seemingly not a good time to invest. Analysts are suggesting the NAB share price is overvalued, and investors may see negative returns if the bank’s valuation goes backwards.

Of course, a 12-month period isn’t the right time frame to judge a business. Over a longer time period, the NAB share price could rise, and the TSR could be much more positive, with dividend payments adding additional returns each financial year.

With all of the above in mind, I think there are better ASX share opportunities out there with a $10,000 investment.

The post By July 2027, NAB shares could turn $10,000 into… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• If I invest $10,000 in Westpac shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?
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• ANZ, NAB, Westpac and CBA shares: Brokers rate 2 a sell, and 2 a hold

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 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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have underperformed materially over the last 12 months.

While this is disappointing for shareholders, it could have created a compelling buying opportunity for others.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who believe the ASX tech stock could have huge upside potential.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter notes that there has been a bit of a rally in the tech sector recently. However, WiseTech shares have missed out due to a number of reasons. It said:

There has been a tech rally of sorts on the ASX over the past couple of months and this has been led by some of the large cap names including Pro Medicus, Block and Life360. One large cap which has not rallied, however, is WiseTech and this is likely due to a number of factors including further negative press reports around founder and Chief Innovation Officer Richard White, concern around the potential future loss of key customer DSV and risk around both the FY26 result and FY27 guidance and whether each meets market expectations. 

The good news is that Bell Potter believes that a change could be coming for its shares. This is especially the case given its belief that WiseTech will deliver on its guidance for FY 2026 and provide guidance that meets expectations. It adds:

In our view, however, these negatives will start to dissipate over the coming months and indeed have already commenced with the appointment earlier this month of Raelene Murphy to Chair which we regard as a positive move. We also believe the company will achieve its FY26 guidance when it reports next month – albeit with some risk around revenue but this should be made up by the margin – and the FY27 guidance will meet expectations following downgrades by the sell-side (ourselves included) over the past few months. 

This potential reduction in negatives could lead to a rally in the share price and this may have already started with the appointment of the new Chair. Some positive outlook statements at the result next month could provide further impetus and, as examples, may include expectations of large freight forwarders shifting to the new pricing model in FY27 and DSV shifting more DB Schenker volumes onto CargoWise.

WiseTech shares tipped to double

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $71.75 price target on the company’s shares.

Based on its current share price of $34.95, this implies potential upside of 105% over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy thesis, Bell Potter said:

There is also no change in our target price of $71.75 and we maintain the BUY. We believe the stock looks value on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.15x and is trading at an excessively large discount to the Technology One multiple of c.27x. We note WiseTech has higher forecast earnings growth than Technology One over the next few years given the expected margin recovery post the e2open acquisition.

The post Why WiseTech shares could rocket 100% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended 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.

The ASX share Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG) may well be one of the best ways to benefit from the strong growth of AI. It’s the owner of a large uranium deposit in Canada, which could be a great profit generator.

It’s one of the picks inside the L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF) portfolio, which is a listed investment company (LIC) that targets ASX shares and international shares. The LIC likes to invest in ASX mining shares – it’s very willing to do so when they seem attractively priced.

Attractive project

L1 recently noted that NexGen is preparing to develop the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposit called Arrow, which is located in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The fund manager said that Arrow will be a new major strategic Western source of uranium to address the “looming market deficit”.

L1 highlighted that the ASX energy share received final regulatory approvals in March 2026. The company is preparing to commence full-scale project construction, with an estimated four-year construction timeline.

How much money could this project generate?

The fund manager believes that once the project is completed, Arrow has the potential to generate around C$2.8 billion of operating profit (EBITDA) annually, assuming a uranium price of US$80 per pound, which is below the current uranium price. In the three months to June 2026, the uranium price increased by 1.5%.

L1 suggested that the ASX share is a “highly compelling proposition given NexGen’s current market cap” of approximately C$8.8 billion. That suggests it’s trading at around 3 times the future potential operating profit.

I think the project could generate stronger profits than expected because AI demand is growing, and therefore additional power generation is needed to plug the gap. Nuclear could be a key part of the equation globally, alongside renewable energy, as coal is slowly phased out around the world.

What do other experts think of the NexGen share price?

According to CMC Invest, there have been three analyst ratings on the business within the last three months, with all of those being a buy.

The average price target of those three ratings is $21.07, suggesting a possible rise of around 60% from where it is today. The ASX share looks much better value after falling more than 20% since early June 2026.

The Arrow projection completion is still a while away, but the company could be a compelling buy at the current level. But there are other ASX shares that could also be compelling investments today.

The post Is this ASX share the best way to play the AI demand growth? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What is Morgan’s updated view on Rio Tinto and BHP shares?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Experts say these ASX 200 shares have great potential
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• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $100,000 annual passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in L1 Long Short Fund. 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.

It has been a strong year thus far for Australia’s two largest blue-chip materials stocks Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). 

Year to date, Rio Tinto and BHP shares are up 9% and 25% respectively. 

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up just 0.8% in the same period. 

Why are Rio Tinto and BHP shares soaring?

These shares have risen strongly this year because investors have become more optimistic about the mining sector. 

Higher prices for key commodities such as copper and resilient iron ore prices, driven by growing demand from AI infrastructure, data centres, electrification and renewable energy projects, have boosted earnings expectations. 

Both companies have also delivered solid production results and attracted investors looking for large, financially strong businesses with reliable dividends, helping push their share prices higher.

What is Morgan’s updated view on BHP shares?

At the end of last week, the team at Morgans provided fresh outlooks on both Rio Tinto and BHP shares. 

Looking at BHP shares, the broker said the mining giant ended FY26 on a good note, with an operational result largely in line with consensus and a touch ahead of our estimates in places. 

Normally a source of volatility, BHP’s coal operations posted decent consensus beats at both BMA and NSWEC. FY27 guidance appears steady relative to our existing estimates, although consensus appears high for group copper. Best-in-breed global diversified miner in what remains a healthy upcycle for resources. We maintain our HOLD rating and A$60.20 target price.

Rio Tinto remains posts healthy Q2

Looking at Rio Tinto shares, Morgans said the company posted a healthy Q2 where it matters. 

Pilbara shipments beat consensus (+2%), while Morgans said it sees the headline Simandou miss (-68% vs consensus) as a net positive: a slower Simandou ramp supports iron ore benchmarks, and each US$10/t on the benchmark is worth ~US$2.5bn of annual EBITDA to RIO’s far larger Pilbara business. 

The sting in the tail was Kennecott, with a late June converting furnace breach requiring a ~75-day full rebuild, hitting H2 refined copper and gold output (total copper including saleable matte unchanged). Copper C1 guidance halved to US30-50c/lb, on strong by-prod prices, a material margin tailwind into the H2 result. Trading back close to where we see fair value, RIO remains one of the highest quality global exposures to a sector enjoying a multi-year upcycle (albeit not without its volatility). We maintain our HOLD rating, A$163.00 TP (was A$165.00).

From last week’s closing price of $160.95, the updated price target is just 1.2% above current levels. 

The post What is Morgan’s updated view on Rio Tinto and BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished a relatively flat week in the red. The benchmark index fell 0.5% to 8,796.7 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a good start to the week despite a poor session on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 55 points or 0.6% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.75%, the S&P 500 dropped 1%, and the Nasdaq sank 1.4%.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a strong start to the week after oil prices jumped on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 4.5% to US$81.49 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 4.6% to US$88.10 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher in response to an escalation in US-Iran tensions.

Buy WiseTech shares

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are seriously undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $71.75 price target on the logistics software provider’s shares. It commented: “We believe the stock looks value on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.15x and is trading at an excessively large discount to the Technology One multiple of c.27x. We note WiseTech has higher forecast earnings growth than Technology One over the next few years given the expected margin recovery post the e2open acquisition.”

Gold price rises

It could be a decent start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price rose on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 0.65% to US$4,018.8 an ounce. This couldn’t stop the gold price from recording a weekly decline on increased US interest rate bets.

Hold BHP shares

Morgans thinks that BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are around fair value right now. In response to its quarterly update, the broker has retained its hold rating and $60.20 price target on the mining giant’s shares. It said: “A good end to FY26 for BHP, with an operational result largely in line with consensus and a touch ahead of our estimates in places. […] Best-in-breed global diversified miner in what remains a healthy upcycle for resources. We maintain our HOLD rating and A$60.20 target price.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CBA, and Rio Tinto shares
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A wide range of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares can deliver good returns, and even outperformance, if investors buy at the right price.

Cyclical stocks can deliver great investments if we buy at the weak point of the cycle. Be greedy when others are fearful, as the saying goes.

The investment team in charge of listed investment company (LIC) L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF) have a great knack for picking out undervalued stocks that have a relatively low price-earnings (P/E) ratio. Its portfolio has returned an average of 16.9% per year over the prior five years, showing its stock-picking prowess.

We’re going to look at these ASX 200 shares that could be compelling businesses to own.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

L1 noted that the Qantas share price rose 27% in the three months to June 2026 following an approximate 50% decline in jet fuel prices after the easing of Middle East tensions, though fuel costs were still around 20% above pre-war levels.

The fund manager also noted that oil refining margins remain Qantas’ key residual headwind, which is still roughly double the pre-war level.

L1 highlighted that during an investor trip to the Airbus factory in Toulouse (France), management reiterated the $400 million operating profit (EBIT) opportunity from Project Sunrise ahead of the planned Sydney to London route service launch, which is scheduled for October 2027.

The fund manager said that overall, while the Middle East conflict has created near-term earnings volatility, it sees Qantas’ strong underlying competitive positioning and medium-term outlook as unchanged.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie is one of the largest building products ASX 200 shares. L1 noted that the James Hardie share price rose 46% in the three months to June 2026, amid easing Middle East tensions and management’s constructive FY27 outlook.

That positive outlook included a pathway to return the core North American fibre cement business to volume growth, despite a subdued US housing market.

L1 expects volume recovery to be supported by: normalisation of channel inventory after the 2025 destocking period; improved execution in repair and remodel; smaller-builder channels; the trim-over installation method; competitor exits; and continued material conversion from vinyl and wood.

In the fund manager’s view, the market is still applying a discounted multiple to the ASX 200 share to reflect recent execution, governance, and housing-cycle concerns. As those issues are addressed, L1 believes there is scope for both earnings growth and recovery in the P/E ratio multiple over time.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The final ASX 200 share in this article is industrial property developer and owner Goodman Group.

The Goodman share price rose 22% in the three months to June 2026, during a growing investor focus on its expanding data centre opportunity and the scarcity value of its powered land bank.

L1 said that the business has advanced its data centre strategy with the announcement of a 50:50 joint venture with DataBank for a 32MW co-location facility in Los Angeles. Its update also reaffirmed its FY26 operating earnings per security (EPS) guidance of growth of “at least 9%” and flagged work in progress (WIP) growth from $14.5 billion to around $18 billion by June.

Overall, the outlook for these ASX 200 shares looks positive, though they’re not the only shares I’d want to look at.

The post Experts say these ASX 200 shares have great potential appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in L1 Long Short Fund. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

One of the biggest decisions you can make about your superannuation is the investment option you choose.

Most funds offer a menu.

Two of the most popular are “balanced” and “high growth.” The choice sounds arbitrary, but over the decades, making the right choice can be worth a fortune.

Let’s compare them.

How the two options differ

A balanced option spreads your money across shares, property, bonds, and cash.

A balanced portfolio typically holds around 60% to 76% in growth assets, while the rest sits in more defensive assets.

A high growth option tilts far harder towards shares and often holds 85% or more in growth assets.

That means bigger swings, but higher expected returns over time.

What the returns tell us about your superannuation

History gives us a useful guide.

Over the 10 years to 30 June 2026, AustralianSuper’s balanced option returned an average of 8.47% a year.

Its high growth option returned 9.64% a year over the same period.

That difference may look small, but it is anything but.

On a large balance compounded over decades, roughly one extra percent a year adds up to serious money.

However, the trade-off is volatility.

High growth options fall harder when markets wobble, and if investors panic and switch at the bottom, they lock in the loss.

Discipline is the price of those higher returns.

Which option suits you?

The answer depends on your time horizon. If retirement is 20 years away, you can usually ride out the bumps, and as such, high growth may suit you.

If you are close to retirement, a steep fall could hurt.

A more balanced mix may help you sleep at night. Many people shift towards safer assets as they near retirement.

On top of that, your risk tolerance matters just as much as your age. The best strategy is the one you can actually stick with.

Three ASX funds that lean growth

Some investors also hold ASX-listed funds directly, inside or alongside their superannuation. Three growth-tilted ETFs stand out.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) tracks the biggest ASX companies, and the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) offers similar broad local exposure. By contrast, the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) adds global technology heavyweights.

Together, they show what a growth tilt can look like. Just remember that more growth means more volatility.

Foolish Takeaway for your superannuation

There is no single right answer for your superannuation.

High growth has historically delivered more over the long run. Balanced offers a smoother ride.

Match the option to your timeline and your temperament. Then leave it alone and let compounding do the work.

The post Should I target high growth or balanced strategies for my superannuation? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Superannuation is a very effective tool for Australian investors to generate returns at a lower tax rate.

Pleasingly, superannuation has a lower tax rate than many individuals, trusts and companies. The way that superannuation works, and the nature of how we access the money, means it’s very easy to invest for the long term inside the super system.

In my view, being paid passive income is one of the best elements of owning shares. Receiving money into our bank account every year for no effort sounds good to me.

How does superannuation play into passive income? Investors lose less of the passive income payments to tax.

Superannuation looks comparatively much more appealing because if a full-time working Aussie receives passive income in their own name, they could lose a third (or more) of that passive income to tax, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the passive income return.

In my opinion, superannuation is therefore a more appealing place to invest because of the lower tax rate in the accumulation phase of life, compared to an individual’s tax rate if they’re a full-time earner.

In retirement, a person’s superannuation tax rate could be 0%. You can’t get any better than that.

Of course, each Australia’s tax position is different, so I’ll just look at targeting a particular income goal from here and ignore the tax rates.

How much is needed in superannuation for $100,000 of annual passive income?

Receiving $100,000 in dividends each year sounds excellent to me. I’m definitely a long way from that target, but I’d love to receive that much in dividends each year.

Australians need to consider what types of investments they want to own and what size dividend yield comes with those investments.

I think ASX shares are the best choice for passive income. The attached franking credits are an excellent bonus.

How much is needed to earn $100,000 annually depends on the dividend yield of the portfolio.

For example, a portfolio with a 6% dividend yield would require $1.67 million. Meanwhile, a 4% dividend yield would require a $2.5 million portfolio.

As you can see, different dividend yields require different-sized portfolios to reach the target. Therefore, the numbers are heavily influenced by what ASX shares superannuation investors choose.

The types of ASX dividend shares I’d buy

There are various options on the ASX that can provide good yields to investors. Aussies could choose quality companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs) or listed investment companies (LICs).

Some of my favourite ideas for dividend growth and a solid starting yield include Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP) and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL).

On the commercial property side of things, I like names such as Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW).

Finally, the LICs that I really like include MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF), L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF), Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG) and Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX).

These aren’t the only attractive ASX dividend shares for superannuation investors, but I think they’re an excellent starting point.

The post How much is needed in superannuation to target a $100,000 annual passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7%
• Should you buy, hold, or sell Wesfarmers shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, Future Generation Global, L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, Propel Funeral Partners, Rural Funds Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, Telstra Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa, Universal Store, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.