APA Group (ASX: APA) is one of the most impressive ASX dividend stocks in Australia, in my view.

There are very few businesses in Australia like APA. It owns a portfolio of energy assets that are worth tens of billions of dollars, which are key for Australia’s economy.

It transports approximately half of Australia’s gas usage with a huge gas pipeline network that spans a lot of the country. It takes gas from sources of supply to where the demand is.

APA also owns a number of other assets including gas-powered energy generation, gas processing, gas storage, solar farms, wind farms, batteries and electricity transmission.

That diversified portfolio has helped APA deliver reliable and comforting payouts. Let’s take a look at what makes it so appealing.

Incredibly reliable payout

Only one other ASX dividend stock has a better payout record than APA Group when it comes to consecutive years of growing payments to shareholders.

When APA announced its FY26 result, the annual dividend represented the 22^nd consecutive year of distribution increases. That’s more than two decades of non-stop growth!

Dividends are not guaranteed of course, but the sector that the business operates in means that it has defensive earnings.

It has managed to grow its payout through the GFC, COVID-19 and the last few years of inflation. Not only is the consistency of the payout appealing but the payment also comes at a good dividend yield.

Good dividend yield

A big dividend yield isn’t everything, but it certainly helps with the level of cash flow that’s paid out by the business.

There’s no ‘right’ dividend yield investors should necessarily target, but I think APA’s yield strikes the right balance between generosity and maintaining enough cash to invest in the business over time.

The business expects to slightly increase its annual payout per security in FY27 to 59 cents. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 5.4%. That’s a very competitive starting yield compared to what’s on offer from term deposits.

Growing earnings

This ASX dividend stock is not a fast-growing technology business, but it is seeing long-term earnings growth over time.

In FY26, it reported underlying operating profit (EBITDA) growth of 8.3% to $2.18 billion and free cash flow growth of 3.2% to $1.1 billion.

There are two main ways the business grows its financials. Firstly, it’s steadily expanding its portfolio of energy assets with gas pipelines, energy generation and electricity-related investments through both construction and acquisitions.

For example, on 20 August 2026, it announced it will construct, own and operate the 72MW Sybella Creek Solar Farm and 52MW 104MWh battery in Mount Isa, Queensland.

The other way APA’s financials are growing is that a vast majority of the revenue is inflation-linked. This can help provide a steady drumbeat of progress in revenue, underlying EBITDA, and cash flow.

What a $1,000 investment in the ASX dividend stock could do

With $1,000 an investor could buy 91 APA shares at the time of writing. That could mean generating $53.69 of passive income in the 2027 financial year from the ASX dividend stock, which is a solid starting point and I believe could lead to further growth in the coming years.

Given that APA shares have risen more than 20% in the past year (at the time of writing), this may not be the best value stock on the market today for investors seeking to beat the market. Therefore, other opportunities could be even more compelling.

The post $1,000 buys 91 shares in an impressively 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 positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The team at Morgans has been busy running the rule over the popular ASX shares in this article.

Let’s find out if the three have been given buy ratings or something else this week. Here’s what you need to know:

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF)

Morgans is feeling positive about this KFC-focused quick service restaurant operator.

In response to a positive trading update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $10.60 price target on Collins Foods shares. It said:

CKF’s AGM trading update was positive. Group sales rose 6.6% over the first 17 weeks of FY27, with Australia resilient and European SSS (same-store-sales) inflecting from the weak start over the last 4 weeks, which we view positively in a tough consumer environment. 

Trading strengthened through the last 4 weeks, with KFC SSS of +3.1% in AU, +3.1% in the Netherlands, driven by the new Halal-certified range, and -0.1% in Germany, a material improvement on the -7.8% (Netherlands) and -7.2% (Germany) start over the first 8 weeks. We retain our BUY rating and A$10.60 target price; Australia is resilient and Europe is re-accelerating.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The broker highlights that this industrial property giant delivered a result in line with expectations last month.

And while its result wasn’t quite enough to justify a buy recommendation, the broker has retained its accumulate rating (between buy and hold) on Goodman shares with a $33.20 price target. It explains:

GMG’s FY26 result (reported 20-August) was solid and in line at the headline, with OEPS of 129.9cps (+10.1% on pcp) matching both MorgansF and consensus. In terms of composition, development earnings (+34% on pcp) carried the result, offsetting softer Management and Property investment earnings. The market remains focused on the pending data centre pipeline, with WIP having increased 53% to $19.7bn (78% data centres) at an 8.2% yield on cost. 

Leasing is progressing alongside construction, but with only a single 50MW Tokyo lease signed, investors are looking for further hyperscale conversions. We remain positive on the medium-term earnings trajectory, underpinned by a funded development book, low gearing (6.5%, 19.5% look-through) and scarce metro land and power. We retain our ACCUMULATE rating with a $33.20/sh TP.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

This lithium miner reported operating earnings that were softer than consensus estimates but in line with Morgans’ expectations.

And with its outlook in FY 2027 unchanged, the broker has retained its accumulate rating on Liontown shares with a $1.40 price target. It said:

FY26 underlying EBITDA missed consensus estimates but was in line with MorgansF, while underlying NPAT beat expectations as the company swung to a net profit from a loss in FY25. FY27 outlook was unchanged with guidance already provided at the 4Q26 result and today’s release contained no material updates on the Kathleen Valley expansion timeline or ramp-up. FID for the expansion is expected by the end of 1Q27. Maintain ACCUMULATE with a A$1.40ps target price.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Liontown, Collins Foods, and Goodman shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Collins Foods and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Collins Foods and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares have enjoyed a strong year of outperformance in 2026.

As have the company’s shareholders.

On Wednesday afternoon, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) diversified financial stock were changing hands for $248.46 apiece.

That sees Macquarie stock up 22.0% year to date, smashing the 2.7% returns delivered by the benchmark index over this same period.

And we shouldn’t leave out the partly franked $4.20 per share dividend Macquarie paid out on 2 July. If we add that back in, then the accumulated value of Macquarie shares is up 24.0% this calendar year.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

After such a strong run, is it too late to buy the ASX 200 financial stock today?

Macquarie shares: Buy, hold or sell?

Morgans’ Damien Nguyen recently analysed the outlook for the surging stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“Macquarie benefits from a diversified global business spanning asset management, infrastructure, commodities and investment markets,” Nguyen said.

“Earnings momentum has improved as transaction activity and market conditions have stabilised, while long term growth opportunities remain attractive,” he added.

But following the strong gains this year, Nguyen issued a hold recommendation on Macquarie shares.

He concluded:

However, a stronger share price and a cyclical earnings profile suggest much of the recovery is already reflected in its valuation. We view the stock as fairly valued and maintain a hold recommendation. The shares have risen from $196.47 on March 3 to trade at $251.01 on August 27.

What’s been happening with the ASX 200 financial stock?

Macquarie shares were in focus when the ASX 200 stock reported its FY 2026 results on 8 May.

With the company achieving year on year growth across all of its operating groups, Macquarie reported a 30% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $4.85 billion.

Commenting on the strong results on the day, Macquarie CEO Shemara Wikramanayake said:

Each of our businesses used its specialist expertise in navigating the current environment, identifying opportunities that support long-term growth and delivering positive outcomes for our clients and communities.

On 23 July, Macquarie again made financial news headlines when the company announced that Wikramanayake will step down as CEO in November. Wikramanayake has held the top post for eight years.

Greg Ward – currently Macquarie’s head of banking and financial services – will take over the reins following Wikramanayake’s retirement.

Macquarie shares set a new record closing high of $267.25 apiece on 6 August.

The post Up 24%! Are Macquarie shares still a good buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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