Author: openjargon

The SkyCity Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SKC) share price is in the spotlight today after the company confirmed it had received and rejected two conditional takeover proposals – one from Oaktree Capital Management at NZ$0.70 per share, and another party at NZ$0.75 – after judging they did not adequately reflect SkyCity’s value.

What did SkyCity Entertainment Group report?

• Company received two conditional, non-binding indicative takeover offers for all shares at NZ$0.70 and NZ$0.75 per share
• Both offers required extensive due diligence and other substantial conditions
• SkyCity’s board unanimously rejected both proposals as not reflecting true company value
• Continues to progress $275–300 million asset monetisation program, including sale of investment properties
• Operating model reset underway, aiming for $30 million in benefits for FY27, growing to $70 million in FY28

What else do investors need to know?

The two takeover proposals were conditional on matters such as at least 8 weeks of due diligence, arranging debt financing, securing board and shareholder approval, and several regulatory and structural hurdles. The board was also asked to provide exclusivity and not change SkyCity’s existing asset or debt arrangements during talks.

After careful review with management and advisers, SkyCity’s board found the proposals undervalued the business and that their conditions could disrupt ongoing operations. The company advised both interested parties it would only proceed if improved terms were presented, but no revised offers were received.

What’s next for SkyCity Entertainment Group?

The company says it remains focused on its current strategy, including completing its asset sales program—already securing unconditional agreements for the 99 Albert Street and Victoria Street properties, as well as a non-binding agreement for its Grand Hotel. The board is also progressing a group-wide operating model reset and undertaking a strategic review of SkyCity Adelaide following a recent agreement with the South Australian regulator.

By sticking to its strategic priorities, SkyCity aims to strengthen its financial footing and unlock additional value for shareholders over the coming years.

SkyCity Entertainment Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, SkyCity shares have declined 11%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

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The post SkyCity rejects takeover offers, focuses on strategy and asset sales appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• SkyCity shares on watch as FY26 profit falls but cost-out strategy advances

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 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. 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.

The Vulcan Steel Ltd (ASX: VSL) share price is in focus after the company reported a 20% lift in FY26 reported earnings per share to NZ 14.4 cents, while reported EBITDA rose 19% to NZ$129.3 million.

What did Vulcan Steel report?

• Reported EPS: NZ 14.4 cents, up 20% on FY25
• Adjusted EPS: NZ 15.1 cents, up 10.8% on FY25
• Reported EBITDA: NZ$129.3 million, up 19% on FY25
• Adjusted EBITDA: NZ$130.3 million, up 16% on FY25
• Operating cashflow: NZ$73.0 million, down 30% year on year
• Final dividend: 4.5 NZ cents per share, fully franked and imputed; 7.0 NZ cents total for FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Vulcan Steel’s recently acquired rollforming business made a strong contribution, exceeding expectations with nine months of trading and bolstering the company’s value-added processing. The company delivered its first year-on-year growth in underlying volumes since FY22, helped by both internal improvements and shifting market conditions.

Customer service remained a focus, with Vulcan maintaining a 98% on-time delivery rate. Net bank debt fell by NZ$5.1 million to NZ$227.3 million, and the company continued to invest in its hybrid site network, including opening a new location in Toowoomba, Queensland.

What did Vulcan Steel management say?

Managing Director and CEO Gavin Street said:

Vulcan improved its operational performance in the 2026 financial year, with higher sales volumes and continued market share growth across Australia and New Zealand despite global trade uncertainty and mixed conditions in our domestic markets. The successful integration of the recently acquired rollforming business was a key highlight for the year. Contributing nine months of trading, the division delivered results ahead of expectations and strengthened Vulcan’s value-added processing capability.

What’s next for Vulcan Steel?

Vulcan said New Zealand’s industry is beginning to stabilise with signs of recovery, though the pace may be swayed by the upcoming general election. In Australia, economic conditions remain mixed, with rate settings and policy uncertainty acting as headwinds.

The company aims to keep the momentum going in FY27 by focusing on customer service and margin improvements, while looking for opportunities linked to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and broader business cycles. Vulcan flagged ongoing risks from global trade and geopolitics but remains focused on supporting growth in both countries.

Vulcan Steel share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Vulcan Steel shares have declined 17%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

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The post Vulcan Steel lifts earnings, declares higher FY26 dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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. 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.

The Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND) share price has been in focus after the company posted record revenue of $2.98 billion, up 31.5% from last year, and net profit after tax climbed 52.1% to $127.3 million.

What did Monadelphous report?

• Revenue rose 31.5% to a record $2.98 billion (including joint ventures)
• Net profit after tax surged 52.1% to $127.3 million
• EBITDA increased 42.9% to $226.0 million, with a margin of 7.6%
• Earnings per share grew 50.1% to 127.6 cents
• Full year fully franked dividend of 108 cents, up 50%
• Secured over $2.7 billion in new contracts and extensions since July 2025

What else do investors need to know?

Monadelphous’ Engineering Construction division delivered revenue of $1.37 billion, a 48.5% increase, spurred by strong iron ore sector activity and integrated services projects. Its Maintenance and Industrial Services arm also hit a record $1.61 billion, up 20%, benefiting from ongoing energy sector work and robust maintenance demand with iron ore customers.

The company made several strategic acquisitions, including Kerman Contracting, Australian Power Industry Partners, and High Energy Service, broadening its service capability across non-process infrastructure and high-voltage electrical services. With more than $680 million in new contracts secured since July 2026, Monadelphous enters the new financial year with a strong committed work pipeline.

What did Monadelphous management say?

Managing Director Zoran Bebic commented:

The long-term outlook for the resources and energy sector remains strong. Investment is expected in both new resource projects and existing operations, with multiple gas construction projects and sustained demand for maintenance services presenting opportunities in the energy sector.

Increasing demand, coupled with Australia’s energy transition, is driving long-term investment in energy generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure, with Monadelphous well positioned to capitalise on these opportunities by leveraging its broadening services capability.

What’s next for Monadelphous?

Looking forward, Monadelphous expects continued strong activity in the resources and energy sectors, underpinned by a robust project pipeline and significant investment in energy transition opportunities. The company plans to focus on consolidating its expanded business in FY27, following a period of substantial growth, while maintaining flexibility for further strategic growth moves.

Management says its strengthened balance sheet and enhanced delivery capability, including recent acquisitions, position Monadelphous well for long-term sustainable growth and value delivery for shareholders.

Monadelphous share price snapshot

The Monadelphous share price has smashed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a gain of over 50%.

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The post Monadelphous posts record FY26 profit and dividend, buoyed by growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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. 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.

The AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB) share price is in focus today after the company delivered record underlying NPAT of $224.6 million for FY26, up 12% from the prior year, and lifted its fully franked final dividend to 71 cents per share.

What did AUB Group report?

• Underlying NPAT rose to $224.6 million (FY25: $200.2 million).
• Reported NPAT was $96.0 million, down from $180.1 million a year earlier.
• Underlying earnings per share increased to 183.69 cents (FY25: 171.75 cents).
• Fully franked final dividend of 71.0 cents per share declared (FY25: 66.0 cps), bringing total FY26 dividend to 98.0 cents, up 7.7%.
• Strong underlying profit growth in International (+19.6%), Australian Broking (+10.0%), and BizCover (+19.9%) business segments.
• Leverage ratio of 2.30x, with $330.5 million in accessible cash and debt facilities at 30 June 2026.

What else do investors need to know?

AUB Group saw solid organic growth across most segments, with International, Australian Broking, and BizCover leading the improvements. New Zealand Broking’s earnings declined slightly in Australian dollar terms due to currency movements and competitive pressures, despite a modest lift in local currency profit.

The company completed the acquisition of Prestige in the International division, helping lift its international EBIT margin. Agencies achieved organic growth in gross written premium, though performance was tempered in the strata insurance market. The dividend reinvestment plan remains suspended.

What did AUB Group management say?

AUB Group CEO and Managing Director, Michael Emmett, said:

AUB Group begins FY27 with greater scale, a stronger portfolio and clear opportunities to lift returns for shareholders. In FY26, we delivered record earnings and higher margins, despite moderating insurance markets, while continuing to invest for long-term growth.

This performance reflected the breadth of the Group, led by strong progress in International and continued momentum across Australian Broking, BizCover and Agencies. In FY27, our focus is clear: integrate Prestige effectively, lift performance where we have more to do, and use our expanded platform to deliver stronger shareholder returns.

What’s next for AUB Group?

Looking ahead, AUB Group has issued FY27 underlying NPAT guidance in the range of $245 million to $265 million, signalling anticipated earnings growth of 9.1% to 18% for the year ahead. Management sees clear opportunities arising from the recently acquired Prestige business and ongoing improvements in its international and domestic divisions.

The company plans to focus on integrating acquisitions, optimising operational performance, and leveraging its broader platform to drive shareholder returns, all while keeping a close eye on foreign exchange movements and macroeconomic conditions.

AUB Group share price snapshot

AUB Group shares have underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with an 11% decline.

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The post AUB Group FY26 results: record underlying profit and higher dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended Aub 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 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.

The Tourism Holdings Ltd (ASX: THL) share price is front of mind for investors after the company reported a 34% jump in underlying NPAT to $46.1 million and lifted its full-year dividend by 62% to 10.5 cents per share for FY26.

What did Tourism Holdings report?

• Statutory NPAT from continuing operations of $39.9 million (FY25: loss of $14.1 million)
• Underlying NPAT up 34% to $46.1 million
• Sale of services revenue (rentals) up 11% to $517.5 million; total revenue $852.9 million (down 5%)
• Full-year dividend of 10.5 cents per share, up 62%
• Net operating cashflows up 67% to $67.3 million
• Net debt reduced to $436 million; leverage improved, equity ratio at 41%

What else do investors need to know?

Tourism Holdings delivered on its four key strategic priorities, including the sale of its UK & Ireland business and exiting two loss-making Australian dealerships, which helped further strengthen its balance sheet. The company also consolidated manufacturing in Australasia and unlocked about $5 million in labour, corporate, and digital savings.

Shareholders will want to note two current takeover proposals: a $3.10 per share bid from BGH consortium and a competing offer between $3.30 and $3.40 per share from a credible strategic acquirer. Both proposals remain non-binding and subject to due diligence over the next six weeks.

What did Tourism Holdings management say?

CEO Grant Webster said:

Rentals remain the engine of thl. Sale of services revenue increased 11% to $517.5 million, the average rental fleet grew 11.5% and RevPARV increased 1% to $58,000.

We entered the second half of FY26 with real momentum. The Middle East conflict in March disrupted international travel with the flow on impacts on fuel pricing impacting domestic tourism for a time. Southern Hemisphere booking intake has since recovered to be ahead of the prior year, with New Zealand intake over the last four weeks up around 40%, Canada is on track for record rental revenue this summer season, and recent U.S. intake is tracking around 45% ahead. That tells us a portion of demand was deferred rather than lost.

Operationally this was a year of delivering hard actions. We consolidated Australasian manufacturing into Hamilton and launched a redesigned Winnebago range, opened a new Queenstown site on 17 August, exited two loss-making Australian dealerships and delivered approximately $5 million of underlying labour, corporate and digital cost savings.

What’s next for Tourism Holdings?

Tourism Holdings says the fundamentals remain supportive of its $100 million underlying NPAT goal, even though the delay in RV sales market recovery and international disruptions have tempered near-term expectations. Recent booking trends are positive, with New Zealand and Australia up around 40% and 15% respectively over four weeks, and Canada and the US seeing record or strong rental demand.

While uncertainty from the Middle East conflict has impacted FY27 momentum, management continues to focus on fleet growth, manufacturing efficiencies, and further cost initiatives, believing the longer-term potential is intact for shareholders.

Tourism Holdings share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Tourism Holdings shares have risen 17%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Tourism Holdings lifts dividend 62% on higher profit, eyes takeover proposals appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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. 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.

The ASX dividend stock Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) has delivered reliable dividends to shareholders this decade. I think it could be a top investment for passive income in the coming years and it’s enacting business plans to deliver it.

Universal Store owns a portfolio of premium youth fashion brands across retail and wholesale businesses. Its core businesses are Universal Store and Perfect Stranger. It also has CTC (which operates the THRILLS and Worship brands). The company has more than 120 stores across Australia.

Compelling dividend record

The business started paying a dividend in FY21 and it has increased its payout every year since then, including in FY26.

In the recent 2026 financial year report, the Universal Store board of directors hiked its annual dividend per share by 11.7% to 43 cents. At the time of writing, Universal Store now has a dividend yield of 5.2% excluding franking credits and 7.4% including franking credits.

But, it’s more than just the dividend that makes this business attractive.

Strong business growth

In FY26, overall sales grew 12.9% to $376.1 million, with Universal Store sales growing 11.5% (amid 8.1% like-for-like (LFL) sales growth). Perfect Stranger sales soared 40.8% to $35.9 million, with 13% LFL sales growth.

Operating leverage was clear in the FY26 result. The company achieved a 140 basis point increase in the gross profit margin to 62.5%, operating profit (EBIT) climbed 17.2% to $64 million, and underlying net profit grew 16.3% to $40.5 million.

Dividend growth is not guaranteed, of course, but Universal Store has delivered regular dividend growth, including during the high-inflation period three years ago and in FY26 amid the Middle East fallout.

The outlook looks good for further dividend growth because of the company’s plans and the strong start to trading in FY27.

Management intends to open between 16 and 20 stores across the group in FY27, with nine to ten new Universal Stores, between six and eight Perfect Stranger stores and one or two new THRILLS stores.

It also plans to reopen a temporarily closed store, refurbish four or five stores and relocate three stores. The company said it continues to be prudent in ensuring the long-term profitability of new stores and lease renewals.

FY27 has started strongly with 9.1% overall direct-to-consumer sales growth.

Universal Store sales are up 5.5% (with 2.9% LFL sales growth), Perfect Stranger sales are up 45.8% (with 17.6% LFL sales growth) and CTC direct-to-consumer sales are up 10.1% (with 3.8% LFL sales growth).

Time will tell whether the business can continue this strong level of sales growth over the rest of FY27 amid the challenging retail conditions.

$1,000 investment in the ASX dividend stock

At the time of writing, if an investor invested $1,000 into Universal Store shares, they’d be able to buy 120 shares with a little bit of money left.

Based on the FY26 payout – but I expect growth in FY27 – an investor would receive $51.60 of cash and approximately $22.11 of franking credits.

It’s not as cheap as it was earlier this year, but this ASX dividend stock continues to impress me, and I’d happily buy some shares today.

The post $1,000 buys 120 shares in an incredibly reliable ASX dividend stock 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If I told you there was a simple ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) out there, one that charges a paltry fee and has returned 15% per annum for the past decade, would you rush out to buy it without a second thought? I wouldn’t blame anyone who was tempted.

That’s exactly what the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) seems to be offering investors right now.

This ETF and index fund is indeed a simple one. It holds the largest 500 companies listed on the American markets, weighted by market capitalisation. In this way, it can be thought of as an American equivalent to the uber-popular Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

Buying the world’s best stocks with this ASX ETF

But instead of investing in the likes of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), IVV is far more impressive in terms of scope and scale. The ASX is home to some fine companies. But very few are heavyweights beyond our shores. Not so with IVV. This ASX ETF literally contains dozens, if not hundreds, of companies that sell goods and services right around the world.

These companies include many names you might be familiar with. General Motors, Coca-Cola, Deere & Co, PepsiCo, Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Netflix, Colgate-Palmolive, IBM, Mastercard, Texas Instruments, Costco… the list goes on. And we haven’t even got to this ASX ETE’s heavyweights. Like most US-based index funds, the iShares S&P 500 ETF is dominated by tech stocks. Its top holdings are also the most powerful companies in the world right now. They include NVIDIA, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Tesla.

It’s these companies that investors largely have to thank for IVV’s incredible performance over the past decade. As we mentioned earlier, this ASXE TF has delivered a 15% return every year for the past ten years. Specifically, it is 15.72% per annum over the ten years to 31 July 2026.

That’s real wealth-building stuff. Helped in no small part by IVV’s minuscule management fee of 0.04% per annum. That’s $4 a year for every $10,000 invested.

So is IVV a no-brainer buy?

Given that the US is home to the vast majority of the world’s best companies, I think it is prudent for most ASX investors to have some exposure to US stocks in their portfolios. They are just a cut above what the ASX has to offer, at least in my view. IVV is a great way to get that US exposure. It is a simple, cheap ETF that provides a lot of diversification. What more could one want?

Saying that, I do think investors need to temper their expectations, though. I would be shocked if the iShares S&P 500 ETF kept returning 15% per annum over the coming ten years. Many of its holdings have reached critical mass, and, at multi-trillion-dollar valuations, will find it difficult to keep growing at the rates they have enjoyed in the past.

Saying that, there is plenty of innovation still happening within IVV’s portfolio. Either way, I think this ASX ETF is indeed a no-brainer buy for any ASX investor with a long time horizon.

The post 15% for 10 years: Is this ASX ETF a no-brainer buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Coca-Cola, Costco Wholesale, Mastercard, Microsoft, Netflix, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Colgate-Palmolive, Costco Wholesale, Deere & Company , International Business Machines, Mastercard, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Tesla, Texas Instruments, Walmart, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended General Motors. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Mastercard, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

For many years, income investors have looked to specific sectors to find strong dividend stocks. 

Income investors have long looked to energy, banks and insurance because these industries tend to generate substantial, recurring cash flows that can support attractive dividend payouts. 

Energy companies can benefit from strong cash generation when commodity prices are favourable, while banks and insurers typically return a meaningful share of their earnings to shareholders once capital requirements are met. 

Their established business models, mature markets and history of shareholder distributions have made all three sectors longstanding sources of dividend income.

Right now, there are three dividend stocks from these industries providing strong yields. 

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has been making headlines this week after releasing its FY26 results. 

The bank delivered cash earnings of $530.2 million for FY26, up 3.0%, with a fully franked final dividend of 33 cents per share.

This means Bendigo Bank shares are currently trading on a trailing dividend yield of roughly 6%. 

This is outpacing the big four banks, as well as much of the ASX financials sector. 

For prospective investors, the shares are scheduled to trade ex-dividend on 1 September. 

This means you will need to own shares by the end of August to be eligible to receive this payout.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

Ampol is the largest, and only Australian-listed, petroleum refiner and distributor in the country, with around 2,000 branded Ampol service stations across all states and territories.

It has also been turning heads this week after delivering a strong first half for 2026, with a 245% jump in RCOP EBIT to $1,392 million. 

Even more exciting for income investors was the announcement that the interim dividend more than quadrupled to 185 cents per share.

This significantly increased new dividend now gives the company a much-improved forward yield of 6%.

Medibank Pvt Ltd (ASX: MPL)

Turning attention to Australia’s largest health insurance provider, MediBank. Last week, the dividend stock announced that its full-year dividend will increase by 6.7% to 19.2 cents per share, fully franked.

While the yield is enticing, the most attractive aspect of this dividend stock may be its consistency. 

It has increased its dividend every financial year (except for FY20) since its listing in FY15.

Based on the current share price, it has a FY26 grossed-up dividend yield of 6%, including franking credits. 

The post 3 great dividend stocks with 6% yields to boost passive income in FY27 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Acrow Ltd (ASX: ACF) share price is in focus today after the company reported record FY26 revenue of $336 million, up 27%, and upgraded its FY27 revenue and EBITDA guidance.

What did Acrow report?

• FY26 revenue climbed 27% to $336.0 million
• Underlying EBITDA was steady at $80.3 million
• Underlying NPAT fell 20% to $27.6 million
• Final dividend of 1.42 cents per share, fully franked (down from 2.95cps in FY25)
• Industrial Access division revenue surpassed $200 million, up 53% year-on-year
• Upgraded FY27 guidance: revenue growth of 30% and EBITDA growth of 37% on FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Acrow completed the acquisitions of Preston’s SuperDeck and Ausgroup Industrial Services for a combined $54.5 million, strengthening its service offering and growth opportunities, particularly in Queensland. To fund acquisitions and maintain a healthy balance sheet, the company raised $70 million via placement and an additional $16 million through a Share Purchase Plan.

Industrial Access remains the company’s largest division, now making up 60% of group revenue, driven by organic growth and gains from major projects such as Perdaman Urea and Snowy 2.0. Construction Services rebounded strongly in the second half, underpinned by renewed momentum in Queensland and solid growth in key states.

What did Acrow management say?

Managing Director Steven Boland said:

The Company has experienced a period over the past two to three years of stagnated profits, primarily due to the downturn in construction activity across the Queensland construction market. During this period, we have invested strategically to expand our national Jumpform, Screens and, most notably, our Industrial Access businesses. Today, Industrial Access generates more than $200m in revenue and has significantly enhanced the quality, stability and resilience of our earnings base.

Our Construction Services division has now turned the corner with the second half revenue reaching a record level for any half yearly period, with most of the growth experienced in Q4. This momentum has continued into FY27.

Looking ahead, we see significant opportunities across both our Industrial Access and Construction Services businesses. … In closing, I believe FY27 will mark a turning point for the business. Over the past several years, we have worked hard to reposition Acrow as a leading player in the national industrial access market, while preparing for the recovery in the construction sector, particularly in Queensland. That recovery is now well underway, and we expect to reap the benefits in the coming years.

What’s next for Acrow?

Looking forward, Acrow has lifted its FY27 revenue and EBITDA targets by 2% and 4%, now guiding for 30% and 37% year-on-year growth respectively. The integration of recent acquisitions, organic growth from newly secured contracts, and a strong pipeline of infrastructure projects—including opportunities tied to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics—are set to drive performance.

In Construction Services, a recovery is underway, especially in Queensland and across civil infrastructure. Management sees cross-selling opportunities and the chance to capitalise on national infrastructure investment and new product innovation.

Acrow share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Acrow shares have declined 8%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

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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 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. 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares can be a solid source of passive income thanks to its dividend being more reliable than its ASX bank share peers.

CBA may have a lower dividend yield than names like National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC).

Some investors may prefer to be more confident in receiving a reliable dividend than receiving the largest level of payout possible.

There’s no guarantee of dividends of course, but CBA has built a reputation as the most stable and resilient domestic bank. Reliable profits are what pays for a reliable dividend when a company like Commonwealth Bank of Australia links its dividend payments to a dividend payout ratio.

To consider how many CBA shares it would take to unlock $8,000 of annual passive income, we must first consider what the dividend could be in FY27 on a per-share basis.

Commonwealth Bank dividend projection

Using the independent forecast on Commsec, owners of the ASX bank share are projected to see a bit of dividend growth in the 2027 financial year.

In FY26, the business delivered an annual dividend per share of $5.05 (representing a 4% rise year-over-year). This came amid 8% growth in statutory net profit to $10.9 billion and 7% growth in cash profit to $11 billion.

According to the estimate on Commsec, investors could experience a 2% rise of the payout to $5.15 per share.

If the business does pay that level of dividend, it would translate into a dividend yield of 3.25% excluding franking credits and 4.6% including franking credits.

How many CBA shares would it take to unlock $8,000 of passive income?

As I’ve noted, Commonwealth Bank is not expected to pay a large dividend in the 2027 financial year, so it’ll take quite a few CBA shares to unlock that much passive income.

The required amount also depends on whether we want to include the franking credits or not as part of the dividend total.

If CBA does pay an annual dividend per share of $5.15 in FY27, then it would require 1,554 CBA shares, excluding the franking credits.

If we include the franking credits as part of the passive income, then an investor would only need 1,088 CBA shares to generate the targeted amount.

But, investors may want to look at other ASX shares that offer better return potential than one of Australia’s largest businesses.

The post How many CBA shares do I need to buy for $8,000 of passive income? 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 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.