Author: openjargon

At age 60, you’ve reached preservation age, meaning you can retire and start drawing down on your superannuation. It also means you’re just seven years away from potentially receiving the Centrelink Age Pension.

The Age Pension is a fortnightly sum designed to help older Australians finance their lifestyle in retirement.

The only thing is. Not everyone is eligible. The amount you can get depends heavily on your income and the assets that you own. 

The income test assesses all of your income, pooled from all sources. That includes anything from superannuation contributions and investment income to part-time wages, bonuses, passive income, and commission payments. 

And the rules are constantly changing, as do the thresholds and maximum potential payments.

And overlooking or misunderstanding your limits means you could see yourself earn less, or nothing at all, when the time comes.

Here are six things every Australian at age 60 needs to know about the Age Pension income test before they retire.

1. Eligibility is strict

To be eligible for the Age Pension, you need to meet basic requirements ahead of the income or asset test. 

That is, you need to be 67 years old (or older). You also need to be an Australian resident who has lived in Australia for at least 10 years, with at least five of those years in a continuous period.

2. The maximum potential payment is about to change

From the 20th of September, the maximum fortnightly Age Pension payment will go up to $1,237.70 for individuals. Couples will soon get up to $933 per person per fortnight, or $1,866 combined.

These figures include the maximum basic rate, the maximum pension supplement, and the energy supplement.

3. Income limits for the maximum rate will stay the same

The income limits won’t change next week. To receive the full Age Pension, single Australians can earn up to $226 per fortnight. Meanwhile, couples can earn up to $396 per fortnight.

Individuals can earn up to an extra $24.60 per fortnight for each dependent child without reducing their pension. Couples living together and both getting a pension can each earn an extra $12.30 per fortnight for each dependent child.

4. Age Pension deeming rules apply, and they’re also about to change

To calculate how much income you receive from your assets, Centrelink uses what it calls a “deeming rule”. 

Deeming assumes your financial assets earn a fixed, set rate of income, regardless of what they actually earn. This assumed income is then added to any other income to determine your final Age Pension rate.

And these rates are about to go up, too.

As of the 20th of September, the lower deeming rate increases from 1.25% to 1.75%, while the upper rate increases from 3.25% to 3.75%.

For single Australians, the first $66,800 of financial assets will soon be deemed at a rate of 1.75%. Over that threshold, the assets will be deemed at the new 3.75% rate.

For couples, the lower 1.75% rate applies to the first $110,600 of combined financial assets, with the higher 3.75% rate applied to anything above.

5. Don’t panic, a part payment is still possible

If you’re over these levels, it’s still possible to earn some level of Age Pension payment before the payment reduces to zero. And thankfully, these are also about to get a boost next week.

Single Australians can earn up to $2,701.40 per fortnight, and couples (living together) can earn up to $4,128 per fortnight combined and still qualify for at least a part-Age Pension. 

If you earn over the income limit and below these cut-off points, your income is assessed on a sliding scale. For a single person, your Age Pension will reduce by 40 cents for each dollar over $226, and for couples, it will reduce by 20 cents for each dollar over $396.

6. Centrelink uses what is called “the lower rule of two”

Centrelink assesses you under both an income and an asset test and then applies whichever gives you the lowest rate of payment.

The post 6 things Aussies at age 60 need to know about the Age Pension income test before they retire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Wall Street just shrugged off the Fed rate hike. Could the ASX 200 be next?
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Coles shares
• Check out the ASX’s newest drone company
• Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income
• Atlas Arteria declares 20c H1 2026 distribution

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

Wall Street didn’t exactly love the US interest rate hike on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve raised rates for the first time in more than 3 years.

Initially, US shares headed lower as investors took in what the Fed had to say.

But that didn’t last long.

By Thursday, buyers were back.

The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) climbed 1.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) jumped 1.7% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) added 0.6%.

That led the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to their strongest sessions in around 6 weeks.

And Aussie investors could get a bit of that rebound, too, today.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) futures are pointing around 0.6% higher this morning after a rough few weeks.

Rates could still go higher

The thing is, the Fed hasn’t exactly gone soft.

Its benchmark rate now sits between 3.75% and 4%, and chair Kevin Warsh said getting inflation back towards 2% remains the priority.

So, there could be another hike coming as well.

The Fed’s latest projections showed 16 of 18 policymakers expect rates to rise at least once more this year.

Normally, that would make life a little harder for growth stocks, especially the big tech companies that helped drive Thursday’s rally.

So why were investors buying again?

Well, it seems that Wall Street is becoming a little more comfortable with higher rates, provided the US economy keeps holding up.

Oil is helping calm things down

Oil is starting to take a little pressure off as well.

Brent crude has fallen for a second straight session to currently US$104.14 a barrel, while WTI is at US$101.14.

Yes, that’s still expensive, but it is well off the levels we saw earlier in the week.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly trying to restore around half the capacity of its damaged East-West Pipeline within days. It’s expecting to be back at full operations within 6 weeks.

In addition, China has privately asked Iran to help rein in Yemen’s Houthis after Saudi Arabia sought Beijing’s support.

This seems to have eased some fears that the supply situation in the Middle East could get worse.

What does this mean for the ASX?

All of this gives the ASX 200 a better backdrop heading into today’s session.

Wall Street finished higher, oil has pulled back, and the US 10-year Treasury yield has dropped below 5%.

That should take a bit of pressure off our stock market for now.

The post Wall Street just shrugged off the Fed rate hike. Could the ASX 200 be next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares has been a rewarding pick for investors seeking rising dividend payouts.

It’s understandable why the business has managed to deliver such a consistently growing dividend – a supermarket business selling food is a vital service and Australia’s population has steadily increased over the years.

FY26 was a prime example of how the business can deliver rising profit and larger dividends.

FY26 total revenue grew 2.8% to $45.6 billion, total underlying operating profit (EBITDA) rose 7.1% to $4.2 billion, underlying EBIT (another form of operating profit) rose 9.9% to $2.3 billion and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) grew 13.7% to $1.25 billion.

This result allowed the Coles board of directors to hike the annual dividend per Coles share by 13% to 78 cents. Let’s take a look at what’s expected of the company’s dividend for the next few years.

FY27

We are currently in the 2027 financial year for Coles, with the supermarket business saying that its sales growth in the first eight weeks of FY27 was consistent with the fourth quarter of FY26. Its e-commerce penetration continues to be impressive and a significant driver of growth – this reached 15.7% over the period.

In the other divisions, liquor’s sales trajectory strengthened across the first eight weeks compared to the fourth quarter of FY26. Its convenience portfolio continued to deliver positive growth, while performance in the warehouse portfolio also improved.

Coles’ CEO Leah Weckert noted that the company has made significant progress over the last three years and it has a “strong plan for the year ahead to keep improving the customer offer, strengthen the business and support sustainable long term growth.”

According to the projection on Commsec, the business is projected to hike its annual dividend per Coles share by 7% to 83.5 cents. That’s a potential forward grossed-up dividend yield of 5.1%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

FY28

The business is forecast to increase its annual dividend per share again in the 2027 financial year, which I’m sure is positive news for shareholders.

The projection on Commsec implies a possible year-over-year 6.3% increase of the annual dividend per share to 88.8 cents.

If owners of Coles shares do receive that dividend, it would be a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

FY29

The best dividend of all could happen in the last year of this series of projections.

According to the projection on Commsec, the business could hike its FY29 dividend per share by 9.7% to 97.4 cents per share.

If that prediction comes true, then Coles would have a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.9%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

There are not many ASX blue-chip shares that I think are as likely as Coles to continue hiking the dividend in the coming years, so it’s definitely one to look at for passive income investors.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Coles shares 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.

Drone company Innovaero Technologies Limited (ASX: INN) will list on the ASX next week after an initial public offer (IPO) which raised $40 million.

Australian defence force a key customer

The company’s prospectus said the company is focused on both crewed and uncrewed aircraft development and support systems.

Chair Vincenzo Di Pietro said in the prospectus:

As at the date of this Prospectus, the Company’s primary product is the OWL-B, a one-way loitering (OWL) munition system that forms part of the Company’s OWL family of systems, which is being developed in collaboration with the Commonwealth (Department of Defence) (DoD) via the Mission Talon-Strike Contract (refer to Section 7.1 for further details). In addition to the Company’s current and historic arrangements with the DoD for uncrewed aerial systems, the Company also derives revenue from its engineering, certification, composite manufacturing and MRO business.

Mr Di Pietro said a priority for the company would be advancing the development of the OWL family of systems, and in particular, “advancing the OWL-B system through remaining qualification and certification with the DoD with the objective of securing production contracts”.

The company would also be looking to expand into international markets in the UK, Japan, and the US, he said.

The company’s prospectus said it was looking to differentiate itself as an Australia-owned drone manufacturer.

The company said:

In Australia, the relevant market opportunity is significant compared with the United States and parts of Europe, particularly in relation to sovereign designed and manufactured armed drones and related interceptor capability. Historically, much of the defence market has been dominated by large primes and platform-centric acquisition models. However, the structural shift toward autonomous, attritable and scalable systems is increasing the role of specialist defence technology companies, such as the Company. The Company seeks to differentiate itself through sovereign capability, agility, and its unique (for its size) vertically integrated aerospace design/certification/manufacture capability.

Significant cash burn

The company’s financials, included in the prospectus, showed it generated revenue of $9.9 million in FY26 and made a net loss of $5.3 million.

The Innovaero Group was founded in 2006, before being formally incorporated in 2020.

The prospectus said:

Since then, its business and activities have evolved and expanded to include the delivery of integrated capabilities spanning complex aerial camera systems, mission-critical defence systems and high-value composite aerostructures for defence, aerospace, and adjacent industrial markets.

Following the capital raising, the executive director, Mike Von Bertouch, is expected to own 27.63% of the company.

The post Check out the ASX’s newest drone company appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, REA Group, and Ramelius shares

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

Building a portfolio of ASX shares that can generate income alongside your usual earnings is a great way to enhance your financial security and diversify your income streams.

How to get started

Generating substantial earnings from dividends does however demand substantial amounts of savings, and getting there can seem an insurmountable task.

Therefore, it’s good to start relatively small, and use the power of compound interest to your advantage.

Today, I’m looking at what can be built up from a base of $20,000.

To generate the target of $5,000 per year in dividend income, you’d be looking at amassing about $100,000 in capital.

I’d argue you could generate about 7% per year from a combination of capital increases – share price growth – and dividends.

If you start with $20,000 in savings, I’d aim to save a further $100 per week.

Over a nine-year period, and assuming a return of 7% per year, you would have $99,055 at the end of this time.

If you’d like to tweak the calculations yourself, head over to the Federal Government’s Moneysmart calculator and have a play around.

Once you hit the $100,000 mark, if you choose, you could start taking your dividends out as an income stream rather than reinvesting them.

So at this stage, what sort of stocks would you be looking to own?

Building an income-generating portfolio

Firstly, it’s a good idea to keep in mind whether the stocks are paying franked dividends.

A fully-franked share comes with a 30% tax credit for the tax already paid by the company, meaning you do not have to pay your full tax rate on the dividends earned.

In terms of trying to hit our target of $5,000 a year, you’d need to be aiming for a dividend yield of 5% – but keep in mind this doesn’t take into account any tax you’d need to pay.

Tolls roads operator Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX) is a reasonable company to consider, as it is currently paying a 9% yield, with brokers expecting a relatively strong yield to be maintained for the next few years.

Gas pipelines operator APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA) is also a good fit, paying a 5.39% dividend, albeit only 31% franked.

Investment company Wam Active Ltd (ASX: WAA) is paying 7.4%, while Argo Investments Ltd (ASX: ARG) is paying 4.18%.

Among the banks, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is paying 4.47% while Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) is paying 6.1%.

Retailer Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) also has a healthy dividend yield at 6.22%.

So as you can see, there are plenty of stocks around which can deliver decent yields once your savings have hit the target.

The post Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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 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.

The Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX) share price is in focus after the company announced a distribution of 20.0 cents per stapled security for the first half of 2026, to be paid unfranked in October.

What did Atlas Arteria report?

• Interim distribution of 20.0 Australian cents per stapled security for H1 FY26
• Distribution will be unfranked
• Ex-entitlement date: 23 September 2026
• Record date: 24 September 2026
• Estimated payment date: 7 October 2026

What else do investors need to know?

The H1 2026 distribution applies for the six months to 30 June 2026. The payment will be made by both Atlas Arteria Limited and Atlas Arteria International Limited, as part of the group’s usual distribution policy.

This distribution will not be franked for tax purposes. Atlas Arteria shareholders are encouraged to check the company’s website for information about distribution treatment for their specific circumstances.

The business operates toll roads across France, Germany, and the US, including interests in APRR, AREA, A79, ADELAC, Chicago Skyway, Dulles Greenway, and the Warnow Tunnel.

What’s next for Atlas Arteria?

The company remains focused on delivering value for securityholders by managing its global toll road portfolio strategically. Investors can expect continued attention to sustainable business practices and disciplined asset management.

Looking forward, Atlas Arteria intends to maintain its current approach and provide regular distributions, but future payments will depend on business performance and market conditions.

Atlas Arteria share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Atlas Arteria shares have declined 16%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is flat over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Atlas Arteria declares 20c H1 2026 distribution 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.

ASX dividend shares that increase their payouts regularly are very attractive to me.

I prefer consistent dividend growth over large dividend yields or cyclical payouts that bounce up and down.

If I’m relying on passive income, then I want to have a high level of confidence that my dividends will continue flowing into the bank account.

Below are the two ASX dividend shares that have increased their dividend payouts the most years in a row.  

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA has the second-best record on the ASX. It has increased its annual distribution every year for the past 22 financial years.

The business describes itself as a leading energy infrastructure business with a portfolio of more than $20 billion of assets. That includes gas transmission, processing, compression and storage assets. It also has gas-powered energy generation and renewable energy generation. Additionally, APA owns and operates battery storage and electricity transmission infrastructure.

The business regularly invests in its portfolio such as new pipelines, new energy generation and new electricity transmission, helping grow its free cash flow, which funds the larger distributions. In FY26, free cash flow grew 3.2% to $1.1 billion and underlying operation profit (EBITDA) grew 8.3% to $2.18 billion.

The ASX dividend share grew its FY26 distribution by 1.8% to 58 cents per security and expects to hike it again in FY27 to 59 cents per security. That translates into a guided distribution yield of 5.5% for FY27.

I like how the business is balancing investing in the business, together with rewarding investors with larger payouts.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts has the best record of all when it comes to consistent dividend growth, which is partly why this business is one of my largest holdings.

The ASX dividend share has increased its regular annual dividend per share every year since 1998, which is a truly impressive streak.

It has managed to deliver that payout growth by maintaining a diversified portfolio across a range of sectors that can produce defensive/largely uncorrelated cash flow. Some of the places it’s invested in includes energy, telecommunications, property, building products, retirement living, agriculture, water entitlements, financial services, electrification, swimming schools, credit and plenty more.

Having that diversification helps reduce risks and helps Soul Patts search for opportunities across a wide array of assets. It has highlighted it’s looking internationally for opportunities too – Australia and the ASX have been the focus.

In the FY26 half-year result, Soul Patts hiked its interim dividend by 9.1% to 48 cents per share, which was a solid increase, in my view.

The ASX dividend share’s latest two dividends amount to a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.5%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Overall, I think these are two of the best ASX dividend shares around and are likely to continue hiking their payouts for the foreseeable future.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Telstra vs NAB shares: which is the better buy today?

Deciding between Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is a classic dilemma for Aussie investors. Both are household names, blue chips to their core, but they play in very different sandboxes: Telstra dominates telecommunications, while NAB is a financial giant. If you’re weighing up Telstra vs NAB shares for your portfolio, there are a few big differences to consider – from their income potential and defensive qualities to their recent performances on the ASX.

The case for Telstra Group

Telstra is Australia’s oldest and most prominent telco, now operating globally across 20 countries. Since its corporate revamp in 2022, Telstra has reorganised under four main arms: ServeCo, InfraCo Fixed, Amplitel, and Telstra International. At heart, though, it remains the backbone of Australia’s mobile, broadband, and fixed-line communications.

Looking at the fundamentals, Telstra offers a market cap of $54.36 billion and a P/E ratio of 24.32, positioning it as a sizeable defensive play. Its current dividend yield stands at 4.34%, supported by franking of just over 90%, giving it decent appeal for income seekers – though that franking is a little less than fully franked. Year to date, Telstra shares have returned 3.70%, so it’s actually in positive territory for 2026 so far.

Telstra’s dividend track record shows reliability (with some years of special dividends thrown in), but the actual dividend per share of $0.21 is lower in absolute terms than NAB. Its earnings per share is $0.199, so profitability is modest but steady.

The case for National Australia Bank

NAB is one of Australia’s big four banks, with roots across Australia, New Zealand, and select overseas markets. It’s a stalwart of the financial sector, with its core business spanning personal and business banking, lending, and wealth management.

NAB’s market cap dwarfs Telstra at $118.53 billion. Its P/E ratio is 19.11, which comes in lower than Telstra’s, meaning NAB shares look cheaper by this measure. NAB’s dividend yield is fractionally ahead at 4.45%, and crucially, its dividends remain fully franked – a key point for many Aussie investors seeking tax benefits from franking credits. The current dividend per share is $1.70, substantially higher in dollar terms than Telstra’s, with a stronger earnings per share at $2.00.

The trade-off? NAB’s year-to-date return is negative, sitting at -7.66% for 2026 so far. While it’s built a solid reputation for consistency, the recent share price drift is worth noting.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the key metrics stack up side by side:

Metric	Telstra	NAB
Market Cap	$54.36b	$118.53b
P/E Ratio	24.32	19.11
Dividend Yield	4.34%	4.45%
Dividend per Share	$0.21	$1.70
Earnings per Share	$0.199	$2.00
Franking	90.48%	100%
YTD Return	+3.70%	-7.66%

There are clear contrasts: NAB is larger, sports a higher fully franked dividend per share, and appears modestly cheaper on a P/E basis. Telstra is faring better for share price performance so far in 2026.

Recent share price performance

Telstra’s shares have mostly ticked upwards in recent weeks. From $4.63 on 1 September 2026, TLS closed at $4.88 on 16 September, a gain of around 5.4% in just over a fortnight. Volatility has been low, and the overall trend is steady to mildly positive.

NAB shares, in contrast, have trended downwards. From $38.50 on 1 September 2026 to $38.02 on 16 September, that’s a mild decline. NAB saw sharper sell-offs and higher day-to-day swings.

So for recent momentum, Telstra is comfortably ahead.

Which is the better buy?

If I were forced to pick between Telstra and NAB right now, my lean would be toward Telstra.

There are a few points that guide my thinking. NAB’s fully franked, high-dollar dividends are undeniably attractive, especially for those seeking regular franking credit income. But Telstra is holding up far better in terms of recent share price growth and offers most of NAB’s income appeal, with a still-solid 4.34% dividend yield and over 90% franking.

NAB shares do look cheaper on a P/E basis, and its much larger scale gives it some defensive strength. But banking sector pressures have dragged on its price, and year to date, NAB is negative, while Telstra is up.

Telstra’s defensive telco business, clearer price momentum, and stable dividends make it my preferred option at today’s prices. For me, Telstra edges past NAB for a balanced mix of growth and income right now.

The post Telstra vs NAB: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy? 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. 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.

Wondering which ASX shares could be buys? 

Well, to narrow things down, let’s see what analysts are saying about the popular shares listed below.

Are they buys, holds, or sells? Here’s what they are recommending:

James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX)

Morgans is feeling more positive about this building products company following the release of its investor day update.

In response, the broker has upgraded James Hardie shares to an accumulate rating with a trimmed price target of $43.00. It said:

JHX held its combined James Hardie and AZEK Investor Day in New York on 15 September 2026. The day centred on the “built to outperform, resilient by design” tagline, as management guided to 4% to 7% organic sale growth above market, while stressing the growth did not require a US housing recovery to work. 

The growth is meant to come from the AZEK combination, synergies running ahead of plan, and a leaner, lower-capex portfolio after the Europe sale. The positive company story and the growth trajectory are only partially offset by the tough macro, a 75bps rise in the 30-year mortgage rate over the past six months, and a peer multiple de-rate. On this basis we upgrade to an Accumulate rating, whilst moderating our target price to A$43.00 (from A$45.00).

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

Another ASX share that Morgans is positive on is gold miner Ramelius Resources.

It is feeling upbeat on its outlook and has put a buy rating and $4.74 price target on its shares. It commented:

RMS is expected to release FY27 guidance and an updated outlook to FY30 in Sep-26, following execution of the EPC contract for the Mt Magnet mill expansion, providing greater clarity on project costs and timing. Following an analyst change, we retain our BUY recommendation with a revised price target of A$4.74 per share.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

Finally, Bell Potter remains bearish on this property listings company and has named its shares as a sell this week with a $148.00 price target.

The broker has concerns that listings volumes could fall well short of consensus estimates due to it operating in a challenging environment at present. Bell Potter explains:

We retain our Sell recommendation. Despite REA’s ability to generate strong results in challenged operating environments, we continue to see significant downside risk to listings volumes/earnings vs. company guidance and consensus and await further data points via lending volumes and market listings before re-considering our thesis.

The post Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, REA Group, and Ramelius shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 2 ASX 200 stocks that Morgans just upgraded
• 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week
• James Hardie says it doesn’t need a US housing recovery. Can it prove it?
• Down 6% today: What’s going on with the James Hardie share price?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in REA 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 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.

There are plenty of ASX dividend shares for passive income investors to choose from on the local market.

But with so many to choose from, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at three ASX dividend shares that I think could be worth considering for an income-focused portfolio.

Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP)

Cedar Woods Properties could be a good option for passive income.

The property developer has projects across residential communities, apartments, townhouses, and commercial developments in several Australian states.

That gives the company exposure to long-term population growth and demand for housing.

Cedar Woods has also built a strong pipeline of projects, which can help support earnings over time as developments move through planning, construction, and settlement.

Property development can be cyclical, but the company has been operating for decades and has a history of returning cash to shareholders through dividends.

For income investors, that combination of development profits, land holdings, and a strong dividend track record could make Cedar Woods worth a closer look.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

Another ASX dividend share to consider is Harvey Norman.

The retailer has exposure to furniture, bedding, appliances, electronics, and other household goods through its stores in Australia and several overseas markets.

But Harvey Norman is more than just a retailer. It also owns a substantial property portfolio, which gives the business another source of value and income.

Consumer spending is under pressure as interest rates rise, so the near term could be tough. But Harvey Norman has a strong brand, a large store network, and exposure to categories that can benefit when housing activity and consumer confidence improve.

This could make it attractive for investors looking for income from both retail and property exposure.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

A final ASX dividend share to look at is Transurban.

It owns and operates toll roads in Australia and North America, including major roads in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

These are valuable infrastructure assets that can generate cash flow over long periods. This is especially the case given population growth, urban congestion, and the value motorists place on saving time.

Transurban isn’t standing still. It has been investing in new infrastructure projects, which could provide another source of growth in future years.

Overall, for investors looking for passive income backed by large-scale infrastructure assets, Transurban could be a strong option to consider.

The post Which ASX dividend shares are buys for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Transurban posts 3.4% August traffic growth
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $1,000 passive income per week?
• JB Hi-Fi vs Harvey Norman: Which dividend stock wins?
• How to make $26,000 of passive income from ASX shares
• My top ASX passive income stocks for the next 10 years

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 Harvey Norman and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cedar Woods Properties. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.