Passive income can be a good reason to invest in ASX dividend shares.

And fortunately for Aussie investors, there are plenty of options on the local share market.

But which ones could be buys?

Here are three ASX dividend shares that I think could be well suited to investors looking to build passive income.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA could be a strong option for passive income. It owns and operates a large portfolio of energy infrastructure assets across Australia, including gas pipelines, processing facilities, storage assets, and electricity transmission infrastructure.

This gives APA a fairly defensive earnings base. Its assets are used to move energy around the country, and a large portion of earnings is supported by long-term contracts and regulated revenue. That can provide a level of visibility that is useful for dividend investors.

APA also has a long history of increasing its distributions over time (around two decades of increases), which adds to the appeal for investors looking to build an income stream that can grow gradually.

In light of this, for investors who want steady income without relying heavily on consumer spending, APA could be worth a closer look.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban is another ASX dividend share that could be well suited to passive income. It owns and operates toll roads in Australia and North America.

These are valuable infrastructure assets in major cities where congestion is a long-term problem.

That gives Transurban an attractive position. As urban populations grow, more people need to move around cities. Well-located toll roads can help reduce travel times, which supports demand for the company’s roads.

The company also benefits from tolling structures that can provide some protection against inflation. That does not mean traffic volumes will rise every year, but the long-term nature of the assets gives the business a strong income profile.

Its regular dividends could make it a useful option for income investors who want infrastructure exposure alongside passive income.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Woolworths is a different type of ASX dividend share. It does not offer the same kind of dividend yield as many infrastructure or property stocks, but it brings defensive earnings and a strong market position.

The company sits at the centre of everyday household spending. Groceries remain a core expense whatever is happening in the economy, which gives Woolworths a more resilient revenue base than many retailers.

The company has faced cost pressures and intense competition, but its position in Australian food retail remains strong and its outlook is positive.

As a result, for investors looking for passive income backed by a large, mature, cash-generating business, Woolworths could be a solid long-term option.

The post 3 ASX dividend shares perfect for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. 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 Apa Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares may be one of the more popular options for dividends on the ASX.

ASX bank shares can provide investors with a pleasing dividend yield because of a combination of factors.

Banks typically have a relatively low price/earnings ratio (P/E) ratio, meaning a low earnings multiple.

Secondly, banks like Westpac usually have a generous dividend payout ratio. The ASX bank share is paying out a majority of its net profit each year to shareholders.

Let’s look at what Westpac is predicted to pay, which will then inform us how many Westpac shares it would take to unlock $8,000 of passive income.

Dividend projection for the ASX bank share

The ASX bank share’s 2026 financial year is nearly over, so it could be interesting to see what’s predicted for the FY26 annual payout.

But this article will focus on the FY27 annual payout, as investors have already received half of the FY26 payout as an interim dividend.

According to the projection on Commsec, the ASX bank share is predicted to pay an annual dividend per Westpac share of $1.54 in FY26. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.3%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Time will tell what the board of directors actually do with the Westpac dividend, which will be influenced by the profit that the ASX bank share reports.

Pleasingly for shareholders, the business is predicted to deliver a slightly larger payout in the 2027 financial year, with a year-over-year increase of 0.6% to $1.55 per share. At the time of writing, that translates into a dividend yield of 4.4% excluding franking credits and slightly above 6.3% including franking credits.

$8,000 of passive income from Westpac shares

It will certainly take a sizeable investment to bring that passive income goal to life.

$8,000 would certainly be a lot of passive income from just one stock, but it is possible – it would just require enough of the ASX bank share.

If we assume the ASX bank share does indeed pay an annual dividend per share of $1.55 in FY27, that would require 5,162 Westpac shares if we just focus on the dividend cash.

But, if we also include the franking credits as part of the overall grossed-up dividend income, that would mean investors would only require 3,613 Westpac shares to make $8,000 of annual passive income in FY27.

Is this the right time to invest in the ASX bank share?

It doesn’t seem to be, according to expert analysts. According to Commsec, there are currently nine sell ratings, six hold ratings and just one buy rating on the business.

Therefore, I think it would be a good idea for investors to look at other ASX opportunities.

The post How many Westpac shares do I need to buy for $8,000 of passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $200 a day in passive income?
• No savings at 30? Here’s how I’d aim to retire early with $1 million buying ASX shares
• ASX 200 bank shares led a financial sector rebound last week
• What’s driving the ASX 200 higher today?
• Westpac shares are under pressure: Is it time to buy the dip?

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.

Share prices are always changing, giving investors the ability to choose ASX share opportunities at cheap valuations.

ASX reporting season recently finished. This gave analysts the chance to update their views on businesses, including share price targets.

I’m going to talk about two businesses that analysts suggest could deliver returns of at least 40% or more in the next 12 months.

Macquarie Technology Group Ltd (ASX: MAQ)

This ASX share describes itself as an Australian data centre, cloud, cybersecurity and telecom operator for government and mid-to-large business customers. It aims to provide the best customer services in Australia.

According to CMC Markets, there have been five ratings on the business within the last three months, with four of those being a buy. The average price target is $83.24, suggesting a possible rise of 50% over the next year.

One of the company’s core attractions is that how 95% of its revenue has come from contracted monthly recurring revenue.

The ASX share is heavily investing to unlock future earnings – in FY26 its capital expenditure was $230.5 million, including $186.2 for IC3 SuperWest). In the coming years, its earnings should grow as a result of these investments.

Despite the investing, its underlying operating profit (EBITDA) grew by 2% to $115.9 million during FY26. The EBITDA is expected to rise again, though modestly, in FY27 with IC3 SuperWest phase 1 revenue starting in the second half of FY27.

Mader Group Ltd (ASX: MAD)

The other ASX share I’ll highlight is Mader. It describes itself as a global leader in the provision of specialist technical services across multiple industries.

Its labour market platform allows it to connect a global network of over 520 customers to a skilled in-house workforce of approximately 4,500 personnel on flexible, fit for purpose and cost-effective terms.

According to CMC Invest, there has been three analyst ratings on the business within the last three months, with all of those ratings being a buy. The average price target of those three ratings is $8.86, suggesting a possible rise of 42% over the next 12 months.

FY26 was a solid year of growth for the business, with 15% revenue growth to $1 billion and net profit after tax (NPAT) growth of 15% to $65.4 million. Plus, its balance sheet‘s net debt improved by $44 million, resulting in a net cash position of $35.7 million.

In FY27, the business expects to grow by at least 13% to $1.13 billion, with net profit of at least $72.5 million (that’s 11% growth).

Double-digit growth is a strong level of expansion given the current economic climate.

The post 2 ASX shares tipped to grow 40% or more in the next 12 months 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 positions in and has recommended Mader Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mader Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.