How does one define the perfect retirement stock? Well, it would have to offer a substantial upfront dividend yield, preferably with full franking credits attached, to help fund said retirement, for one. It would also preferably have a decent track record of funding reliable dividends, to lend one confidence that the stock can conceivably continue to underpin a retirement for years, or even decades.

A diversified earnings base would also help, as would payouts on a more frequent interval than the six-month gap that is common on the ASX.

Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8) arguably ticks all of these boxes. Let’s go through them.

Plato Income Maximiser is a listed investment company (LIC) that specialises in catering to the financial needs of retirees. Like most LICs, Plato runs its own underlying investment portfolio that it manages on behalf of its investors. In Plato’s case, this portfolio consists of a wide variety of other ASX dividend-paying shares.

These shares are all selected on their ability to fund large but sustainable dividends. Some of these holdings currently include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS). So that’s diversity ticked off.

How does this ASX retirement stock measure up?

Plato uses the dividends it receives from this underlying portfolio to pay out its own dividends. This dividend comes every single month, meaning investors enjoy 12 paycheques a year from this retirement stock. Those dividends usually come with full franking credits attached too. Tick, tick.

Over the past 12 months, Plato has funded 12 dividends, each worth 0.55 cents per share. The annual total of 6.6 cents per share in fully franked dividends gives this retirement stock a trailing dividend yield of 4.44%. That’s at yesterday’s closing share price of $1.48. Another box ticked.  Bear in mind that this yield comes after Plato’s 18.8% rise over the past 12 months, which has reduced the trailing dividend yield on his company substantially.

But what about Plato’s track record?

Well, since launching in 2017, Plato has only cut its dividend once. That was over 2020, when the pandemic crushed the dividends many ASX shares were able to pay out. Plato did cut its monthly dividend from the then-0.5 cents per share per month down to 0.4 cents per share. But that lasted about a year, and investors have seen their payouts rise back and then exceed 2020’s levels since.

In terms of overall returns, Plato investors have enjoyed an average total return (share price growth plus dividends) of 10.2% per annum since inception. That just beats out the broader market, which has averaged 10% per annum over the same period.

Our final box gets a tick, and as such, I would be happy to recommend Plato Income Maximiser to any income investor looking for the perfect retirement stock today.

The post The perfect retirement stock with a 4.4% payout each month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• $20,000 of Telstra shares can net me a $1,774 passive income!
• This is the stock price I would buy Telstra shares at
• Why ASX 200 copper stocks like Sandfire and BHP shares could be in the sweet spot in 2026
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in National Australia Bank and Plato Income Maximiser. 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 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.

Many investors look to capture emerging markets and trends. Right now, one such sector is artificial intelligence (AI). 

Rapid innovation in the sector is disrupting the ways we live and work and piquing investor interest in artificial intelligence.

However, it can be difficult to sift through the noise, headlines and misinformation. This is especially relevant when an industry is rapidly developing and changing. 

A new report from Global X has shed light on how to stay ahead of the curve. 

The rapidly evolving world of AI 

In the latest report from Global X, the ETF provider reinforced the difficulty of pinpointing where within a theme or industry to allocate resources. 

Global X said this could be upstream or downstream, in small-cap disruptors or established players, or emerging markets.

The challenge lies in cutting through the noise to distinguish transformative developments from those that may be overhyped.

The DISRUPT framework

Global X has developed an investment strategy to help pinpoint opportunities in the AI sector. 

According to Global X, the DISRUPT Framework evaluates seven key criteria: disruption, innovation, scalability, resilience, uptake, potential, and transformation. 

Together, these elements combine to create a detailed picture of a specific innovation. It also offers insights into lifecycle stage, market dynamics, and optimal investment opportunities.

The opportunity – AI and Automobiles 

The DISRUPT framework shows that AI in Auto is highly advanced in disruption and innovation. This is supported by strong adoption, improving scalability, and meaningful long-term economic potential. 

The technology is already embedded across global OEMs and EV makers, while partnerships between chip suppliers, cloud providers, and autonomy developers continue to deepen. 

AI now influences how cars are designed, manufactured, operated, and updated, with applications spanning smart cockpits, fleet optimisation, predictive maintenance, and assisted driving.

According to Global X, this creates a broad and investable opportunity set across the automotive value chain. 

The ETF provider said the strongest opportunities lie in the midstream where AI capability is already central to model design and production. 

Semiconductors, sensors, vehicle compute, simulation engines, and software stacks are scaling across the US and China in particular, with Korea and Japan strengthening through component and manufacturing leadership. 

These layers benefit from rising global AI penetration and tend to outperform downstream OEM exposure, which remains more sensitive to regulation, competition, and pricing.

How to gain exposure?

For investors wanting to gain exposure to these themes, there are targeted ASX ETFs that aim to track relevant companies. 

For broad exposure to AI companies, investors might consider the Global X Ai Infrastructure ETF (ASX: AINF).

It provides targeted exposure to this growing opportunity through a concentrated and equally weighted portfolio of companies across energy, materials and data infrastructure.

Another AI focussed ETF is the Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI). 

It targets companies that potentially stand to benefit from the further development and utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in their products and services, as well as in companies that provide hardware facilitating the use of AI for the analysis of big data.

For exposure to the electric vehicle sector, investors may consider the BetaShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility ETF (ASX: DRIV). 

It provides exposure to a portfolio of global companies at the forefront of innovation in automotive technology.

The post Which AI themes should investors be targeting in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 niche ASX ETFs you didn’t know existed

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.

Experts from the fund manager Wilson Asset Management (WAM) have outlined some stocks that could be opportunities. I’m going to highlight one ASX blue-chip share and one ASX small-cap share.

One business is from the WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE) portfolio, which is a listed investment company (LIC) that focuses on the larger companies on the ASX. The other company is from the WAM Microcap Ltd (ASX: WMI) portfolio.

Let’s get into those ideas. While they may not be some of the most well-known businesses on the ASX, they may be just as capable of delivering good returns for investors, if not more because the market isn’t paying them a lot of attention.  

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

WAM described Whitehaven Coal as a leading Australian coal producer with “high-quality assets and a robust balance sheet“.

The investment team in charge of WAM Leaders revealed that the LIC recently increased its holding of Whitehaven Coal shares as coal prices began to “firm” after bottoming earlier in the year.

The ASX blue-chip share continues to deliver sound operational results despite a challenging backdrop and is executing cost-reducing initiatives with increased volumes at Blackwater and Daunia mines expected to “drive unit cost reductions from FY27”.

The fund manager also noted that Whitehaven Coal maintains strong capital management flexibility, supporting shareholder returns through share buybacks and dividends.

Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA)

WAM said that Artrya is a medical technology company focused on the detection and management of coronary artery disease and utilises artificial intelligence (A) to deliver accurate and non-invasive diagnoses in emergency and primary care settings.

The fund manager noted that the Artrya share price increased in December after Artrya announced it had secured its second US commercial customer, signing a three-year agreement with Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), one of its US foundation partners.

The agreement has a minimum value of US$0.3 million for the Salix Coronary Anatomy platform, with additional upside from per-scan fees for add-on modules.

It also supports Artrya’s US growth strategy by moving a foundation partner into a paying customer and creating a reference site for further hospital contract wins.

Importantly, the Salix platform is expected to be rolled out across NGHS’ five hospitals and broader network, signalling scope for wider adoption beyond an initial implementation.

WAM said Artrya also pointed to its Atlanta-based customer success team as a key enabler of smooth deployment and scalable customer onboarding as it grows in the US. The approval of Artrya’s Heartflow Analysis module and additional customer contract wins are key near-term catalysts.

Both of these ASX shares could be pleasing opportunities at the current share prices.

The post 1 ASX blue-chip share and one small-cap share to buy in 2026: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 best ASX 200 energy shares of 2025
• ASX 200 energy sector leads the market ahead of OPEC+ meeting
• The ASX energy shares that surged ahead of the rest this year
• Guess which ASX 200 stock has the highest dividend yield?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Wam Microcap. 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.

These 2 ASX mining stocks have had a rough time. Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) saw their share prices tumble over the past 12 months, falling 13% and 16% respectively.

However, these bruised ASX coal stocks get exceptional marks for their dividend yields.

Most income investors automatically reach for the usual suspects: banks, telcos, maybe a bit of infrastructure. But right now, those 2 ASX mining stocks are flexing a dividend yield that leaves the rest in the dust.

Let’s have a closer look.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) 

We’ll start with the bigger of the two ASX mining stocks, $6.8 billion Yancoal Australia. The company, majority-owned by the Chinese Yankuan Energy Group, is one of Australia’s largest coal producers. It has mines across NSW, Queensland and WA.   

At today’s prices, Yancoal currently sits at the top of the ASX 200 dividend yield table. With shares hovering around $5.20 at the time of writing, Yancoal has been showering shareholders with cash.

The result? A trailing dividend yield in double-digit territory. The ASX mining stock is paying an exceptional 11.1% dividend, fully franked – comfortably ahead of the big banks, telcos, and even energy heavyweights.

Yancoal’s dividend policy is designed to be generous, but not reckless. Under its framework, the company aims to return the higher of 50% of net profit or 50% of free cash flow to shareholders. However, this isn’t set in stone. The board retains full discretion and can dial things back if circumstances demand it.

The high dividend yield will appeal to income investors, but it comes with volatility. Dividends are closely tied to coal prices and are unlikely to stay this high.

Analysts are generally upbeat on the ASX mining stock. The average 12-months price target is set at $5.95, which implies a potential 14% upside compared to the current share price. This could bring total returns for the year to 25%.  

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

ASX mining stock New Hope Corporation has been dragged lower by a sharp slump in global coal prices. Still, New Hope is waving a juicy carrot in front of income investors.

At the current share price of $4.07, it’s serving up an eye-catching dividend yield of roughly 8.5% fully franked.

Tempting stuff — but is it a bargain, or just hazard pay for riding the coal cycle?

On the operations front, New Hope isn’t standing still. The ASX mining stock is a seasoned Australian coal producer, anchored by Bengalla in NSW and New Acland in Queensland.

Management also continues to talk up low-cost operations, diversification and disciplined execution, even as pricing cools.

Dividends are doing the heavy lifting though. A dividend reinvestment plan is now live, and management says dividends remain the main return lever. Shareholders pocketed 34 cents fully franked over the year, helping soften the blow from recent capital losses.

As for brokers? Mixed vibes. Some see upside above $4.50 if coal prices rebound. Most, however, sit on the fence. Macquarie’s gone full cold shower, downgrading the stock and warning prices could still fall further.

The post Consider these 2 ASX mining stocks for high dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Down 16%: Is this 8% yield ASX mining stock a buy?
• ASX 200 energy sector leads the market ahead of OPEC+ meeting
• Guess which ASX 200 stock has the highest dividend yield?

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

Over the long-term, I think it’s the best businesses that will deliver the most pleasing compounding returns. With that in mind, there are a few ASX shares that I think could deliver market-beating returns.

These are investments that have already delivered very impressive business growth. Further successful expansion could help deliver compelling shareholder returns.

Both of my ideas below are tapping into international markets, giving them very appealing total addressable markets.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

This business is the largest ‘growth’ position in my portfolio because of how compelling I think its outlook is. It’s a Singaporean telecommunications business that is winning customers by offering good value products.

In the first quarter of FY26, the business revealed that its mobile subscribers had grown 20% year-over-year to 1.34 million, suggesting further market share gains in the Singapore market.

Pleasingly, the company is also seeing growing traction with its broadband offering – in that FY26 first quarter, the number of active broadband services grew by 27,300 year over year to 36,200.

This strong growth number helped quarterly revenue surge 24.5% to $44.2 million, while operating profit (EBITDA) rose 23.6% to $19.9 million.

Net profit growth has been significant in recent times. In the whole of FY25, it generated $6.9 million of net profit. Meanwhile, in the first quarter of FY26 alone, its net profit reached $9.1 million.

I’m expecting the ASX share’s net profit to grow significantly from here, thanks to further subscriber growth, the acquisition of M1 and the potential for expansion in nearby countries.

Global X S&P World EX Australia Garp ETF (ASX: GARP)

The GARP exchange-traded fund (ETF) looks to me like one of the most effective ways to invest in global shares because it aims to invest in growth at a reasonable price (GARP).

There are a number of globally-diverse ASX ETFs that Aussies can buy. But, I prefer to invest in ones that are more selective, where they only invest in the best businesses.

The GARP ETF could be the most effective because of how many screens it puts large global stocks through. There are three main filters it looks at.

For growth, it looks at a company’s 3-year sales per share growth and earnings per share (EPS) growth.

For value, the fund looks at the earnings to price ratio – this is another way of calculating the price/earnings (P/E) ratio.

On quality, the GARP ETF wants to see companies have healthy financial leverage (meaning debt levels) and a good return on equity (ROE). Global X explained:

Companies in the investable universe are first ranked based on growth metrics, with the top 500 stocks eligible for inclusion. From there, the top 250 stocks are selected based on their quality and value scores to determine the final index constituents. I’m calling this an ASX share because it invests in shares and we can buy it on the ASX.

It’s invested in 250 companies spread across multiple countries and sectors, giving it pleasing diversification.

These are among my favourite ASX shares to buy right now.

The post 2 incredible ASX shares to buy in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Global X announces dividends for DTEC, WIRE and other ASX ETFs
• 10 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 in 2026 to beat the market
• Own the Global X GARP ETF? The fund just made some key changes
• These 2 ASX growth shares are ideal for Australians!
• 2 compelling ASX shares I’d buy in a heartbeat

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Tuas. 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 post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Develop Global, Imricor Medical, Light & Wonder, and PWR shares are storming higher today
• Buying ASX 200 shares? Here’s what the latest spending report means for interest rates in 2026
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises appoints new ANZ CEO and boosts executive team
• 3 growing small cap ASX shares with huge potential
• Light & Wonder shares leap 25% on $190 million legal breakthrough with Aristocrat Leisure

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Newmont. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, HMC Capital, and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HMC Capital and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When you are new to investing, the hardest part is often knowing where to begin.

With thousands of shares and exchange traded funds (ETFs) available on the ASX, it is easy to feel overwhelmed before you even make your first investment.

One of the simplest ways to get started is by using ETFs to gain instant diversification and exposure to different parts of the market without needing to pick individual shares.

But which ones?

Here are three ASX ETFs that could provide a sensible foundation for beginner investors.

Vanguard Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VAS)

The Vanguard Australian Shares ETF is one of the most popular ETFs on the ASX, and for good reason.

It provides broad exposure to the Australian share market by tracking the largest listed companies across multiple sectors. This means investors gain access to many of Australia’s most established businesses through a single investment.

For beginners, the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF offers two key benefits. First, it delivers diversification within the local market. Second, it provides regular dividend income, which can be reinvested to help compound returns over time. As a core holding, it can form the backbone of a long-term portfolio.

Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF adds a growth-focused element to a beginner portfolio.

This ASX ETF provides exposure to Australia’s technology sector, which includes companies operating in software, payments, online platforms, and digital services. While the sector can be more volatile than the broader market, it also offers higher long-term growth potential as technology adoption continues.

The Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF allows new investors to gain easy access to this growth theme without relying on the success of a single tech stock. Instead, it spreads risk across a basket of Australian technology shares, making it a more balanced way to participate in the sector’s upside.

Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

While Australian shares are a strong starting point, they represent only a small portion of the global market.

The Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF helps solve this by providing exposure to 1,200+ companies across developed markets such as the United States, Europe, and parts of Asia. This includes many of the world’s largest and most influential businesses across technology, healthcare, and consumer industries.

For beginner portfolios, the Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF adds geographic diversification and reduces reliance on the Australian economy. Over time, this global exposure can help smooth returns and capture growth opportunities that are not readily available on the ASX.

The post New to Investing? Here are 3 ASX ETFs to get you started appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX ETFs I would buy in 2026 and hold forever
• Vanguard reveals next lot of dividends for VAS and other ASX ETFs
• This is how I would build a sound ETF portfolio from scratch
• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years
• Where to invest $7,000 in Janaury

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 Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Investing with a 20-year timeframe changes the way you think about ASX shares.

Short-term volatility becomes background noise. What matters instead is whether a business can stay relevant, keep reinvesting, and grow alongside changes in technology, consumer behaviour, and the global economy. The best long-term performers are rarely perfect every year, but they tend to compound steadily as their markets expand.

With that perspective, here are three ASX 200 growth shares that could be well suited to a buy-and-hold approach over the next two decades.

Life360 Ltd (ASX: 360)

Life360 operates a platform that has quietly become part of everyday life for millions of families around the world.

Its app combines location sharing, safety features, and emergency tools in a subscription-based model that benefits from strong network effects. Once families adopt the service, it often becomes embedded in daily routines, leading to high retention and recurring revenue.

What makes Life360 particularly interesting over a 20-year horizon is the size of its opportunity. While it may already have over 90 million monthly active users, this is still only a small portion of the global population. This gives it a long growth runway over the next two decades. It also has a major opportunity to deepen engagement with current users and lift its revenue per user metric significantly.

If Life360 continues to execute, it could evolve from a single-purpose app into a broader consumer safety platform over time.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Another ASX 200 growth share that could be a top buy and hold option is Lovisa.

It shows how a retail business can still deliver long-term growth when the model is right. The company operates a fast-fashion jewellery concept with global appeal, supported by rapid product turnover, disciplined store economics, and a capital-light expansion strategy. Unlike many Australian retailers, Lovisa has successfully scaled across regions including Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Over a 20-year period, the key driver is not any single season’s sales, but the ability to keep opening profitable stores and adapting to local markets. Lovisa has shown it can do this repeatedly, while maintaining strong margins and returns on capital.

As long as management remains disciplined and demand for affordable fashion accessories persists, Lovisa has the potential to keep growing its footprint for many years.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech Global operates at the core of global trade and supply chains.

Its CargoWise platform is used by major freight forwarders and logistics providers to manage complex international shipments. As global trade becomes more regulated and interconnected, the value of integrated software solutions continues to rise.

What makes WiseTech compelling over a multi-decade timeframe is its scalability. Software allows the company to grow revenue faster than costs as customers expand usage and adopt additional modules. High switching costs also help protect WiseTech’s position once customers are embedded in the platform.

While its share price has experienced significant volatility in recent times, I believe the long-term trajectory for this ASX 200 growth share is upwards.

The post 3 amazing ASX 200 growth shares to buy and hold for 20 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Here are my top 10 ASX stocks for 2026
• Is the WiseTech Global share price about to shock us all in 2026?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 incredible ASX growth shares to buy and hold forever in 2026

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, Lovisa, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Lovisa, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Passive income investors typically have to make a choice when it comes to picking their next ASX dividend share. They can go for the mature, blue-chip stocks that offer a high-yield dividend today, at the expense of strong dividend growth potential. Otherwise, they can opt for the stocks that offer low upfront yields, but have a strong history of growing their dividend payments at fast rates.

In practical terms, this might look like deciding between ANZ Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ)’s 4.65% dividend yield and the 0.33% that WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) currently offers investors (at the time of writing).

Most ASX dividend shares fall into one of these two buckets. But there are rare exceptions to this would-be rule. And those exceptions often present the best passive income opportunities.

I think MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) is one of those opportunities. MFF is a listed investment company (LIC). Like most LICs, MFF owns an underlying portfolio of assets that it manages on behalf of its shareholders. This portfolio consists mostly of high-quality US stocks that have been held for years and allowed to compound. Some of its top holdings include Google-owner Alphabet, Mastercard, Home Depot, and American Express.

Dividend growth or high passive income? This ASX share might offer both

This Warren Buffett-like approach to investing has paid off well for MFF. We can see this impressive performance codified in MFF’s dividend growth history. This passive income payer doled out 2 cents per share back in 2017. But by 2025, this had risen to 17 cents per share. As we discussed earlier today, dividends inherently weaken a company. Only the best stocks can afford to increase their payouts by a compounded average growth rate of 30% per annum, as MFF has over the past eight years.

That growth rate would handily qualify MFF as a low-yield, high-growth dividend stock. Yet, MFF’s shares trade on a healthy trailing dividend yield of 3.3% today. That comes with full franking credits attached, too.

No, there’s no guarantee that MFF will continue to grow its payouts as aggressively as it has in recent years going forward. However, I think past performance indicates that MFF’s investing strategy is a sound one, and future dividend increases are likely. The company has already told investors to expect a 25% hike to 10 cents a share for its first dividend of 2026.

As such, I believe the current MFF share price presents a rare opportunity to secure a passive income share with a substantial starting dividend yield that could potentially grow its dividends at a rapid pace going forward.

The post Why this 3.3% dividend yield might be a rare passive income opportunity appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 10 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 in 2026 to beat the market
• 31%: This could be the best dividend growth stock on the ASX
• $20,000 in excess savings? Here’s how to try and turn that into a second income in 2026
• 5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026
• 3 steps to replace your wage with dividends from ASX shares

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, American Express, Mastercard, and Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Home Depot, Mastercard, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Mastercard, and Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN) are staging a sharp rebound on Monday, climbing 6.76% to 39.5 cents.

The move offers some relief after a brutal year for investors. Despite today’s bounce, Coronado shares remain nearly 50% lower than this time last year.

So, what has sparked renewed buying interest today?

Let’s unpack.

Coal prices are turning higher

The main tailwind for Coronado right now is the recovery in metallurgical coal prices.

Coking coal prices have climbed back to around US$230 per tonne, up strongly over the past month. Prices are now more than 16% higher than this time last year, according to Trading Economics.

Recent strength in coking coal prices has been driven by tighter supply conditions. Steel-making demand is also improving, with blast furnaces lifting utilisation rates and buyers rebuilding inventories after last year’s slowdown. Production constraints and ongoing logistics bottlenecks in key export regions have also helped support prices.

This is significant for Coronado, a pure-play metallurgical coal producer. Higher coal prices typically flow quickly into earnings expectations, especially for miners with significant operating leverage.

A beaten-down stock finds buyers

Coronado shares have been under pressure for most of the past year as coal prices softened and investors rotated away from cyclical resource stocks.

The stock hit lows near the mid-20 cent level late last year before starting to stabilise.

From a technical point of view, today’s move is interesting. The RSI is sitting around 63, suggesting momentum has improved, but the stock is not yet in overbought territory.

Support appears to be forming around 35 cents, while 40 cents is shaping up as an important near-term resistance level. A clean break above that zone could attract further short-term buyers.

What should investors watch next?

The big question is whether this rally can last.

For the move to be sustained, coal prices will likely need to hold their recent gains or continue pushing higher. Any renewed weakness in coking coal could quickly pressure Coronado shares again.

Investors should also be watching for updates around costs, balance sheet strength, and capital management.

Foolish bottom line

Today’s jump in Coronado Global Resources shares reflects improving coal prices and a rebound from deeply oversold levels.

While momentum has picked up, Coronado remains highly exposed to swings in coal prices, which will shape returns over time.

As always with coal stocks, volatility comes with the territory, and sharp moves in either direction should be expected.

The post Investors are buying this ASX coal stock again today. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Coronado shares surge 12% after Monday’s sell-off
• Why 4DMedical, Coronado Global, Metallium, and WiseTech Global shares are falling today
• Coronado shares plummet after mine fatality in Queensland
• 5 worst ASX All Ords shares of 2025, and why brokers rate 4 of them a buy

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.