Category: Stock Market

If you’ve been buying BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares this past year, you’re likely sitting on some healthy gains.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed on Tuesday trading for $49.73. That sees the share price up 25.5% over 12 months, racing ahead of the 9.6% gains delivered by the benchmark index over this same time.

And that doesn’t include the $1.958 in full franked dividends the miner has paid out (or shortly will pay out) over the full year. BHP shares currently trade on a fully franked dividend yield of 3.9%.

Now all of this performance came under the guidance of CEO Mike Henry.

In fact, during his six-and-a-half-year tenure, total shareholder returns have been around 17% a year, with BHP returning some US$80 billion to shareholders over this period.

But in an announcement this morning, BHP revealed that Henry will be stepping down from the top role.

Here’s what we know.

BHP shares coming under new leadership

Australia’s biggest miner reported that Brandon Craig will become its new CEO and director on 1 July.

Commenting on the changing of the guard that investors buying BHP shares will be watching closely, chair Ross McEwan said:

We are very pleased an executive of Brandon Craig’s calibre and extensive experience has been appointed as our new CEO to lead the execution of our strategy. I am confident that his discipline and focus will continue to drive BHP’s high-performance culture and advance the company’s unrivalled pipeline of growth options to maximise shareholder returns.

We would like to recognise the outstanding contribution of Mike Henry to BHP as CEO. Under his leadership, BHP has transformed into a safer and more productive company, financially strong and sharply focused on shareholder value and social value.

“It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of BHP and to have worked with so many truly talented people,” Henry said. “We are creating sustainable long-term value for our shareholders, our supply chain, partners and the communities where we operate.”

What we know about the new CEO

BHP said Craig’s appointment as its new CEO followed a formal succession process.

Craig is currently BHP’s president Americas. During his time in this role, BHP became the world’s largest copper producer. And with copper prices surging to new records this past year, that’s provided a material tailwinds for BHP shares.

Previously, Craig led BHP’s Western Australia Iron Ore business, where he worked to increase BHP’s lead as the world’s lowest cost, highest margin major iron ore producer.

Commenting on his appointment, Craig said:

It is an honour and privilege to succeed Mike Henry as CEO of BHP. Thanks to his leadership, BHP is well positioned for the future. Mike will be remembered for his strategic decision-making, portfolio transformation, operational excellence and focus on safety and high-performance culture.

As incoming CEO, I am committed to leading the talented and hard-working people who make BHP a great company and continuing to generate long-term value for all our shareholders.

The post Buying BHP shares? Meet your new CEO appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Where to invest $5,000 in Australian shares for the rest of 2026
• $10,000 invested in BHP shares 5 years ago is now worth…
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• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Woodside shares
• Should you buy the dip on ASX mining shares?

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

When you’re looking for an easy passive income, it can be tempting just to go for the ASX dividend shares that pay the highest yield.

But it’s worth remembering that higher yields often mean higher risk. 

Instead, you want to look for ASX dividend shares that give investors a reliable and consistent payout over a long-term period.

Here are three ASX dividend shares, each yielding a decent 5% to 6%, which I think are a great passive-income play.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

From electricity and natural gas to solar and LPG, Origin Energy is a leading energy provider to homes and businesses throughout Australia. 

Energy shares are a great option for passive income because they generate substantial cash flows, especially when energy prices are elevated. This allows them to provide high yields to shareholders. 

Because Origin’s assets operate under long-term contracts, often with rising income, it can also be seen as a defensive stock. After all, demand for electricity, gas, solar and LPG is unlikely to decline over the long term. Australians need power, regardless of where we are in the economic cycle.

In the first half of FY26, Origin Energy paid its investors 30 cents per share, fully franked. At the time of writing, its yield is around 5.18%.

Dexus (ASX: DXS)

Dexus is a major Australian property investor, developer, and manager. It has a large, high-grade office portfolio and a smaller industrial portfolio in Australasia. It also manages properties on behalf of third-party investors.

As a real estate investment trust (REIT), Dexus owns a large portfolio of office, industrial, and infrastructure rental assets that generate consistent and predictable income. 

It’s this diversity and reliable income that enable Dexus to pay a reliable dividend to its investors. 

Dexus paid an unfranked interim dividend of 19.3 cents per share in February. At the time of writing, the ASX dividend shares yield around 5.76%.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Centuria Industrial REIT is another real estate investment trust, but this one owns around $4 billion in purely industrial properties. These include manufacturing facilities, distribution warehouses, and data centres.

Like Dexus, Centuria Industrial REIT benefits from consistent rental income from its large portfolio of industrial properties in high-demand areas with low vacancy rates and strong rental growth.

Centria Industrial REIT pays dividends to investors quarterly. Its most recent payment was 4.2 cents per share in January, unfranked. It is scheduled to pay another 4.2 cents per unit, unfranked, in April. In FY25, the company paid investors an annual total dividend of 16.32 cents per share. At the time of writing, Centuria Industrial REIT’s dividends yield around 5.52%.

The post Passive income investors: These 3 ASX dividend shares pay 5% to 6% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is in focus today after the company announced the appointment of Elizabeth (Liz) Westcott as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Westcott brings more than 30 years’ experience in the global energy sector, including recent leadership across major Australian projects.

What did Woodside Energy Group report?

• Appointment of Elizabeth (Liz) Westcott as CEO and Managing Director, effective immediately
• Westcott has served as Acting CEO since December 2025, previously Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Australia
• Fixed Annual Reward for Westcott set at A$2.3 million, with potential bonuses and incentives
• Material long- and short-term incentive plans established for new CEO
• The Board conducted a comprehensive internal and external search process

What else do investors need to know?

Westcott’s leadership background spans working at EnergyAustralia and a 25-year career at ExxonMobil, covering roles in operations, project execution, and strategic planning across Australia, the UK, and Italy. Since joining Woodside in 2023, she has overseen the company’s Australian Operations, including the Scarborough Energy Project and Bass Strait operator transition.

The Board’s decision highlights their focus on smooth succession and strategic stability. The remuneration structure for the new CEO combines fixed salary, short-term and long-term incentives, and aligns with shareholder interests.

What did Woodside Energy Group management say?

Woodside Chair Richard Goyder said:

Liz’s proven track record of outstanding strategic leadership and disciplined delivery distinguished her as the Board’s top candidate for this role. Liz’s extensive industry experience and strategic vision will be invaluable in leading Woodside at this significant moment in its history, as we position the company to meet growing global energy demand and deliver long-term shareholder value.

What’s next for Woodside Energy Group?

Liz Westcott will lead Woodside through a period of growth and transition, continuing the company’s commitment to operational excellence and disciplined project delivery. Her focus will be on sustainable value creation, executing key growth projects, and maintaining Woodside’s strategy of meeting rising global energy demand.

Investors can expect ongoing emphasis on sustainability, commercial performance, and disciplined execution, as Westcott builds on the foundation laid by her predecessor and works closely with Woodside’s Board and leadership team.

Woodside Energy Group share price snapshot

Over the past year, the Woodside Energy Group shares have risen 37%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Woodside Energy Group appoints Liz Westcott as CEO appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
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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 healthcare stock Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6) is in the spotlight this week. Yesterday, the company released positive news around its new imaging agent.

Let’s back up and provide a little context. 

Company overview and trial update

Clarity Pharmaceuticals specialises in the development of Targeted Copper Theranostics (TCT) for the imaging and treatment of selected cancers. 

In particular the company works on identification of certain cancer biomarkers. They develop technology to target those biomarkers with either small molecules or monoclonal antibodies.

The company has been engaged in a clinical study. 

The study is evaluating the diagnostic performance of the company’s 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA PET imaging agent. The agent aims to detect recurrent prostate cancer in men with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after initial treatment.

Importantly, the study compared Clarity Pharmaceuticals’ imaging technology with a current standard-of-care PSMA PET scan.

Yesterday, the company released an announcement that the agent showed a 71% true positive rate, meaning that 7 out of 10 positive scans were confirmed as cancer, compared with only 29% for the older agent, 68Ga-PSMA-11.

The biggest improvements were in detecting cancer in the prostate fossa and lymph nodes, where treatment can be curative.

The false negative rate was just 21% for 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA, versus 65% for 68Ga-PSMA-11, confirming its higher accuracy and reliability.

Interestingly, this ASX healthcare stock shot 17% higher on the news, before cooling off and actually finishing the day down 6%. 

Bell Potter provides an update

Following the announcement, Bell Potter released updated guidance on the ASX healthcare stock. 

The broker said Professor Louise Emmett presented key findings from the Co-PSMA study on Monday in London at the European Association of Urology annual conference.

The headline data had been released previously and showed that 64Cu-SARbisPSMA PET outperformed 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET in the detection of biochemical recurrence in men with very low PSA levels.

The totality of the data confirms 64Cu SAR bisPSMA is vastly more accurate for the detection of early stage BCR, particularly in men with very low PSA levels consistent with low tumour burden.

The stage is now set for a readout from the approval study for 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA (AMPLIFY) which has now ceased accepting new patient consents and is practically fully enrolled (n=220). The Co-PSMA data along with data from COBRA and anticipated findings from AMPLIFY will form the basis of submission of a new drug application to be submitted to the FDA.

Upside in tact 

Included in the report from Bell Potter was a speculative buy recommendation. 

The broker also maintained its price target of $6.40. 

From the recent closing price of $3.40, this indicates an upside of 88.2%. 

The false negative rate (i.e. no cancer on the PET image, positive on biopsy/pathology) was 21% for 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA vs 65% for 68Ga-PSMA-11, again demonstrating CU6’s product as clearly superior. 

We conclude that 64Cu-SARbisPSMA also provides a far more satisfactory level of specificity.

The post Exciting clinical news for this ASX healthcare stock earns it a buy recommendation  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Bell Potter is tipping this exciting ASX healthcare stock to rise 80%
• Why is this ASX 200 share charging 7% higher today?
• Why this speculative ASX stock could rocket 68%

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.

New Hope Corp Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares fell more than 6% yesterday along with many other mining stocks.

Despite this fall, New Hope shares remain up 22% this year. 

Why did New Hope shares fall yesterday?

It seems investors were reacting to two important issues yesterday. 

Firstly, the company released its half-year results.

Some key results included: 

• A 20.1% decline in revenue to $814.4 million
• 84% decline in net profit after tax to $54.3 million – influenced by a 20.4% decline in its average realised selling price, its exposure to increased prime overburden movement, and lower non-regular gains. 
• A reduced fully franked interim dividend to 10 cents per share (from 19 cents per share a year ago).

Secondly, investor sentiment may be changing due to renewed attention to Australia’s energy policy and transition.

As The Motley Fool’s Aaron Teboneras reported yesterday, debate continues over Australia’s energy transition and the role coal will play in the country’s future power mix.

However New Hope Chief Executive Rob Bishop believes it may take time before renewables can fully replace coal.

He argues this is evident right now, as recent geopolitical tensions have reminded policymakers about the importance of reliable power.

What did Bell Potter have to say?

Following yesterday’s earnings results, Bell Potter released updated guidance on New Hope shares. 

The broker said underlying EBITDA and statutory NPAT came in below its expectations. 

Speaking on the Middle East conflict, the broker said it has raised energy security concerns and driven higher prices across the energy commodity complex. 

The spot thermal coal price is US$132/t, up 23% compared with the December 2025 quarter average (US$108/t). 

The broker said any further impact to global LNG supply should support thermal coal demand and prices. 

On the investor call, management noted it is monitoring risks to diesel supply and pricing, with around ~20% of NHC’s cost base exposed to the fuel. We expect any increase in NHC’s cost base to be offset by higher realised prices.

We have increased our realised prices in the current quarter and raised our D&A assumption across FY26-27. EPS changes in this report are: -22% in FY26; -5% in FY27; and unchanged in FY28.

Hold recommendation 

Based on this guidance, the broker placed a hold recommendation on New Hope shares (previously sell). 

The broker now has a price target of $4.50 (prev. A$4.10) on the company. 

However, from yesterday’s closing price of $4.96, this indicates a downside of 9%. 

NHC’s low-cost operations will continue to underpin margins through the coal price cycle, funding capital expenditure commitments and supporting shareholder returns. Beyond ramp-up of New Acland Stage 3, we see a limited organic production growth pipeline and believe NHC may participate in industry consolidation.

The post What is this broker saying about New Hope Group shares? 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 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.

The Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM) share price is in focus today after the company flagged an expected FY26 underlying EBIT between $350 million and $400 million, with its Sims Lifecycle Services segment contributing strongly.

What did Sims report?

• FY26 Group underlying EBIT expected to be $350–$400 million
• Sims Lifecycle Services underlying EBIT forecast at $165–$185 million
• Stronger prices for non-ferrous metals and memory chips supporting performance
• Metal division sees uplift from aluminium (Zorba) prices and improved US ferrous pricing
• Ongoing headwinds in ferrous prices in Australia and New Zealand

What else do investors need to know?

Sims noted that the ongoing Middle East conflict has had only a limited operational impact so far, mainly affecting shipping and fuel costs. Despite continued high Chinese steel exports putting pressure on scrap prices, Sims’ Metal business remains supported by robust non-ferrous pricing and a focus on sourcing more unprocessed material.

Sims Lifecycle Services continues to benefit from high secondary-market demand for DDR4 memory and strong activity from hyperscale customers. Investors will receive further details on this fast-growing division at Sims’ Investor Day in Nashville on 25 March 2026.

What’s next for Sims?

Looking ahead, Sims expects a strong third quarter and a materially improved second half in both its North America Metals (NAM) and South America Regions (SAR) divisions. However, the outlook for ferrous prices in Australia and New Zealand remains muted in the short term.

The company will unveil more about its SLS segment and key business drivers at the upcoming Investor Day, offering shareholders more clarity on Sims’ strategy amid global market shifts.

Sims share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Sims shares have risen 22%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Sims flags stronger FY26 earnings on robust metals and tech demand appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Woodside Energy Group appoints Liz Westcott as CEO
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• ASX 200 resilient in face of latest RBA interest rate increase

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.

Getting started in the share market can feel like a big step, but it doesn’t need to be complicated.

For beginners, the focus should be on building a simple, diversified portfolio that can grow over time.

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be ideal for this, offering exposure to a wide range of companies or strategies through a single investment.

With $5,000 to invest, here are three ASX ETFs that could help you get started on the right foot.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

The first ASX ETF that stands out for beginners is the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF.

Instead of tracking the biggest companies, this fund focuses on businesses with strong fundamentals, such as high returns on equity, low debt levels, and consistent earnings growth. These are often the types of companies that can perform well across different market cycles.

By investing in the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF, you are effectively gaining exposure to a curated group of global stocks that have demonstrated financial strength and resilience.

For new investors, this can provide a more disciplined approach to global investing compared to traditional index funds.

This fund was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

If you want local exposure, the BetaShares Australian Quality ETF takes a similar approach within the Australian market.

Rather than holding all the major ASX shares, it selects those that score highly on profitability, earnings stability, and financial health.

This results in a portfolio that tilts towards more reliable and consistent performers, rather than simply the largest companies by market value.

Current holdings include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

For beginners, this can be an appealing way to invest in Australian shares while focusing on quality over size, potentially helping to smooth returns over time.

Analysts at Betashares recently recommended this fund.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

To complement these quality-focused strategies, the iShares S&P 500 ETF offers broad exposure to the US market.

This ASX ETF gives investors access to 500 of the largest companies in the United States, covering sectors such as technology, healthcare, and consumer goods.

Among its holdings are the likes of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Walmart (NYSE: WMT), and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).

This means it provides instant diversification and access to many of the world’s most influential businesses, potentially making it a strong core holding for beginner investors.

The post 3 ASX ETFs for beginners starting with $5,000 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 positions in and has recommended Apple, Microsoft, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, BHP Group, Microsoft, Wesfarmers, 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.

Experts are always on the lookout for ASX share opportunities, and after reporting season there are quite a few businesses that are now trading at attractive valuations.

We’re going to look at two businesses that are investing to capitalise on major opportunities ahead.

One of them is tapping into big increases of demand for AI, while the other is looking at the UK as an exciting growth avenue.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Broker UBS describes Nextdc as Australia’s leading data centre as a service business, which has locations in a number of cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Auckland.

The FY26 half-year result saw ongoing progress by the business. Total revenue grew by 13% to $26.3 million and the underlying operating profit (EBITDA) climbed by 9% to $115.3 million. The net loss after tax improved by 8% to $3.3 million.

Impressively, the contracted utilisation – an important measure for a business selling data centre space – saw 137% growth to 416.6MW. Its forward order book of 296.8MW is projected to ramp into billing across the rest of FY26 to FY29, underpinning future growth of revenue and earnings.

UBS has a buy rating on the ASX share with a price target of $22.55, implying a possible rise of 70% over the next 12 months from where it is, at the time of writing.

The broker wrote in a note:

NXT is experiencing the strongest growth chapter in its history. Not only has it just contracted 172MW, but it will activate 157MW in FY27 – more than the 120MW activated in the entirety since the business started in 2012. We estimate contracted EBITDA of c.$718m (materially higher than the $239m we forecast for FY26).

UBS thinks the business has enough financial funding to deliver on its growth prospects, as well as the ability to secure an associated hyperscaler contract.

UBS thinks Nextdc can grow its revenue to $488 million in FY26 and reach $1.3 billion by FY30. The broker is expecting a net loss of $117 million in FY26, which could turn into net profit of $139 million in FY30.

PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA)

Another buy-rated business is PEXA, which operates the “leading digital property settlement platform” in Australia, according to UBS. It handles property transfers and refinancing transactions.

The ASX share’s FY26 half-year result was promising. Revenue rose 10% to $215.3 million, operating profit (EBITDA) rose 19% to $85.9 million, underlying net profit (NPATA) climbed 33% to $40.3 million and free cash flow jumped 25% to $40.2 million.

UBS noted that HY26 profit was ahead of expectations, though it seems the business will invest much of that into delivering stronger long-term growth.

The broker points out the “critical UK roll-out should support longer-term value upside”. The Natwest remortgage launch is due in April 2026. PEXA is also investing in attracting/onboarding additional lenders and conveyancers.

UBS has a price target of $17.50 on the business, implying a possible rise of 14% over the next year from where it is, at the time of writing.

The broker expects PEXA to generate $50 million of net profit in FY26 and this could grow to $191 million by FY30.

The post Brokers rate these 2 top ASX shares as buys in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

With a rising RBA cash rate, I think ASX dividend shares need to offer a good starting dividend yield to be attractive to investors looking for passive income.

There’s no specific yield that’s the right level – it depends on how much passive income an investor is trying to generate from their portfolio. The higher the yield goes, the riskier/less reliable it may be.

But, there are a few ASX shares that offer a very large dividend yield, but have also offered consistent payouts.

Shaver Shop Group Ltd (ASX: SSG)

Shaver Shop is one of the largest retailers of male and female grooming products including electric shavers, clippers, trimmers and wet shave items. The company has 126 Shaver Shop stores across Australia and New Zealand.

The company has a very steady dividend record. It increased its annual dividend per share every year between 2017 to 2023, maintained it in 2024 and then grew it slightly in FY25.

At the time of writing, it has a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.7%, including franking credits, which is incredibly attractive, in my view.

I think dividend growth looks likely because in the second half of FY26 to 22 February 2026, it reported total sales growth of 3.8% and online sales growth of 12.7%.

With initiatives like growing its store network, increasing online sales, expanding its own brand (Transform-U) and working with additional brands for exclusive products.

Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG)

I really like listed investment companies (LICs) as passive income options because of how they can determine what size dividend to pay each year, assuming they have the profit reserves to do so.

Future Generation Global has invested in a number of funds that are focused on international shares. I like this strategy because it means being able to hunt for opportunities from across the world, giving great diversification and a good opportunity to find high-performing investments.

Pleasingly, the fund managers don’t charge management fees (or performance fees). Instead the LIC donates 1% of its net assets each year to youth mental health charities.

The ASX share has increased its annual payout each year starting in 2019, which is an impressive record of dividend growth considering everything that has happened between now and then.

Ignoring the recently-announced special dividend of 3 cents per share, its 2025 annual regular dividend came to 8 cents per share, representing a year over year increase of 8.1% year-over-year.

The 8 cents per share payout for FY25 translates into a regular grossed-up dividend yield of 7.3%, including franking credits. I think that’s a great starting point for the dividend income.

The post 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to invest $10,000 to aim for a 15% dividend yield
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Global. 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 Shaver Shop Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN) share price is in focus after the company posted higher mass market electricity and gas sales and reported lower generation costs for February 2026.

What did Contact Energy report?

• Mass market electricity and gas sales rose to 295GWh (Feb 2025: 237GWh)
• Average customer netback held steady at $160.23/MWh (Feb 2025: $159.57/MWh)
• Contracted wholesale electricity sales reached 816GWh (Feb 2025: 632GWh)
• Unit generation cost dropped to $41.70/MWh (Feb 2025: $70.95/MWh)
• Electricity generated (or acquired) totalled 809GWh (Feb 2025: 675GWh)
• Average electricity sales price rose to $380.72/MWh (Feb 2025: $341.24/MWh)

What else do investors need to know?

Contact Energy’s wholesale business saw a notable fall in unit generation costs and higher electricity sales, which points to improving operational efficiency. However, electricity and steam net revenue per megawatt hour declined to $122.35 from $133.15 a year ago, reflecting some pricing or mix changes.

Hydro storage on 16 March 2026 was healthy, with South Island at 98% and North Island at 164% of mean levels. February 2026 inflows into the Clutha catchment, though, were 73% of the mean, following strong inflows in previous months.

Contact is progressing with three major renewable projects, including Glenbrook-Ohurua Battery (Q1 CY26), Kōwhai Park Solar (Q2 CY26), and Te Mihi Stage 2 geothermal (Q3 CY27).

What’s next for Contact Energy?

Contact Energy is firmly focused on expansion and transition to renewables, with several large projects under construction and over $1 billion invested in new solar, battery, and geothermal facilities through 2027.

Equity analysts’ FY26 EBITDAF forecasts have been summarised, with consensus in the $965 million to $995 million range, depending on Manawa integration costs. The company is not endorsing individual forecasts.

Contact Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Contact Energy shares have declined 4%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

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The post Contact Energy posts higher sales and lower costs in February 2026 report 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.