Tag: Stock pick

Investors have long relied upon ASX 200 bank shares for reliable chunky dividends each year.

But can we continue to do so?

Investment firm, Market Partners, explains why it prefers another type of ASX financial share over banks for dividends these days.

Expert recommends better stocks for dividends

Instead of ASX 200 bank shares, Market Partners analysts James Gerrish and Shawn Hickman prefer insurance stocks.

The main case against the banks is not their relatively high share prices.

It’s that investment loans have been powering their growth, and “that is likely to be pulled in” following the Federal Budget.

The Federal Government proposed major changes to capital gains tax (CGT) in the budget last month.

Under the changes, the 50% CGT discount for assets held longer than 12 months will be replaced by a cost base inflation indexation method from 1 July next year, and a minimum 30% CGT rate will apply.

In a webinar, Hickman, who is head of research at Market Partners’ digital advice platform, Market Matters, said:

It’s hard to imagine people are going to go out there aggressively in the near future and get fresh investment loans.

This may impact the earnings of the ASX 200 bank shares, which would threaten future dividends.

They’re very secure businesses, but the growth factor for them to push a lot higher from here is very hard to imagine.

And that’s why Market Matters is underweight.

We still own ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ). We still own Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). They’re strong. They’re going to make money. They’re going to pay good dividends, but we don’t see any reason to be overweight the banks.

While Gerrish emphasises that they are “certainly not negative on the banks” at today’s share prices, investing is still “a relative game”.

Gerrish explained:

… insurers benefit from higher interest rates. So they earn a higher income from their invested funds.

You pay your premiums, they invest the premiums, they earn a return on the premiums, then they pay out claims when they come up.

He points out that the insurance sector has experienced volatility for the past three or four years, but things have changed.

… now the tailwinds on the insurance side are improving, we think, and you think about insurers yielding circa 5%, banks mid-4%s.

Insurers have less economic sensitivity, banks have a greater degree of economic sensitivity relative to the insurers.

I think there’s a case to be made that there’s more upside in the insurers than banks.

That doesn’t mean the banks don’t go up from here, but there’s probably more upside in terms of the insurance stocks relative to the banks.

Preferred ASX insurance share for dividends

Gerrish said Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) is Market Matters’ preferred ASX insurance share for dividends moving into FY27.

Since selling its banking division to ANZ, Gerrish reckons Suncorp has become a “simpler and safer institution”.

He says a significant new reinsurance program, that takes about 2% off Suncorp’s earnings, will protect future dividends for investors.

In this sort environment, where yield is really, really important, I think Suncorp stacks up here.

It trades about two P/E points cheaper than Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG).

I think it probably should trade more aligned with IAG.

Reinsurance protects Suncorp’s earnings by transferring part of the financial risk of high payouts after major events.

Gerrish noted that climate change has raised risks and encouraged insurers to invest in reinsurance.

The experts point out that higher inflation can allow insurers to raise premiums, however it also makes repairs more expensive.

Gerrish added:

Insurance is a good business when they get their pricing discipline right and claims are benign.

That’s the sort of environment that they’re in now.

So insurance companies can now print a lot more money.

And the other thing around higher rates… is their investment portfolio has a long duration.

So, as they roll over fixed income — the majority is in fixed income — then they’re getting higher rates of return on the investment portfolio as well.

Top ASX insurance share pick for growth

The experts said their top pick among ASX insurance shares for growth into FY27 is QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE).

Gerrish said:

They’ve been working hard over the last five, 10 years around simplification of their business.

So they went out there, they made a huge number of acquisitions… and it’s starting to pay benefits.

The experts said QBE was an emerging turnaround story, with the share price trading close to 15-year highs.

Gerrish added:

Turnarounds can take a lot longer than anyone envisages.

But once a turnaround is starting to gain traction like it is in QBE, then the stock can run a lot further and a lot longer than anyone thinks.

So, on 12x [P/E], growing earnings at high single digits, yielding 4.7% part-franked [dividends] with earnings tailwinds, we think QBE stacks up.

ASX 200 bank share dividends

The trailing dividend yields of the ASX 200 bank shares are as follows:

• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have a trailing dividend yield of 3% plus 100% franking
• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have a trailing dividend yield of 4.5% plus 100% franking
• ANZ shares have a trailing dividend yield of 4.8% plus 70% to 75% franking
• Westpac shares have a trailing dividend yield of 4.3% plus 100% franking

The post Invested in ASX 200 bank shares for dividends? This fundie prefers other stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If I invest $8,000 in Westpac shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• 5 ASX 200 shares I would buy if I were starting from scratch
• How to invest in ASX shares when you can’t find stocks to buy
• Where I’d invest $2,000 in ASX 200 shares
• Which Aussie blue-chip stock is the best performer so far in 2026?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

A market selloff will inevitably arrive eventually. It might be caused by interest rates, inflation, earnings downgrades, politics, a recession scare, or something else investors did not see coming.

The exact reason matters less than the preparation.

A strong ASX share portfolio should not be built only for good times. It should also be able to handle rough markets without forcing investors into bad decisions.

Start with businesses, not share prices

The first step is to stop thinking about a portfolio as a collection of ticker codes.

It is a collection of businesses.

When markets fall, share prices can move far more quickly than the underlying businesses. That can make a good company look broken, or a weak company look cheap.

This is why quality matters. A business with a strong balance sheet, dependable demand, good management, and a clear reason to exist has a better chance of coming through difficult periods intact.

Its share price may still fall, but a stronger business has a better chance of recovering and continuing to grow once conditions improve.

Own more than one type of strength

A resilient portfolio should not rely on one sector, one theme, or one economic outcome.

Different companies can bring different types of strength. A defensive business such as Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) can provide exposure to everyday household spending, while Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) gives investors exposure to toll road infrastructure used across major transport corridors.

On the other side, companies such as Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) can offer stronger long-term growth potential through property development, enterprise software, and cloud-based small business tools.

The main point is to avoid building a portfolio that only works when one part of the market is doing well.

Know what you want to buy before the panic

Selloffs are much easier to handle when investors already know what they want to own.

During a market panic, headlines become louder, confidence disappears, and it can feel safer to do nothing.

That is why a watchlist can be powerful. Investors can identify quality ASX shares in advance, decide what makes them attractive, and think about what price would make them more compelling.

This turns a selloff from a surprise into a possible opportunity. Instead of trying to make decisions from scratch while the market is falling, investors can return to work they have already done.

Leave room for mistakes

No portfolio will be perfect. Some companies will disappoint, some valuations will prove too high, some dividends will be cut, and some growth stories will take longer than expected.

That is why diversification is important.

A portfolio does not need dozens of holdings to be sensible, but it should not depend too heavily on one company being right.

This is especially important with higher-growth shares. They can create significant wealth over time, but they can also fall sharply when expectations change.

A mix of defensive earners, dividend payers, quality compounders, and selected growth shares can give investors more ways to win.

Focus on the plan, not the noise

The hardest part of a selloff is usually emotional. Watching a portfolio fall is uncomfortable, even when the long-term plan still makes sense.

That is why the best time to build a selloff-resistant portfolio is before the selloff starts.

Own businesses you understand, keep debt and risk in mind, stay diversified, keep cash available if that suits your strategy, and know which shares you would be happy to buy if the market gives you the chance.

A portfolio that can survive a selloff is not one that never falls. It is one that gives investors enough confidence to stay the course when the market becomes difficult.

The post How to build an ASX share portfolio that can survive a market selloff appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are my 5 best ASX passive income stocks
• How I’d choose the best ASX shares I could hold for 10 years
• Woolworths shares vs Coles: Buy, hold, or sell these ASX giants?
• 4 ASX 200 shares downgraded by brokers this week
• Why has the ASX 200 given up its early rebound today?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group, Technology One, Woolworths Group, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Technology One, Transurban Group, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group and Technology One. 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 have long been popular with passive income investors.

That is not surprising. Australia’s major banks regularly return billions of dollars to shareholders through dividends, and those dividends are often fully franked.

For many investors, that combination of cash income and franking credits is a major part of the appeal.

And even if you do not own Westpac shares in your own portfolio, there is a fair chance your superannuation fund has exposure to Australia’s oldest bank. That means Westpac’s profits, dividends, and share price performance can have an impact on a very large number of working Australians.

What dividends are forecast?

The market is expecting Westpac to deliver earnings per share of $2.12 in FY 2026 and $2.24 in FY 2027.

From this, the bank is forecast to pay fully franked dividends of $1.56 per share in FY 2026 and then $1.60 per share in FY 2027.

That means the forecast dividends would represent payout ratios of approximately 74% and 71%, respectively.

That is important because dividend sustainability matters. A high dividend can look attractive, but investors still need the earnings base to support the payment.

In Westpac’s case, the forecasts suggest that the bank is expected to generate more than enough earnings to cover its dividends, while still retaining some profit within the business.

How much passive income could $8,000 generate?

Westpac shares ended the week at $35.01.

Based on that share price, an $8,000 investment would buy approximately 228 Westpac shares.

If Westpac pays the forecast FY 2027 dividend of $1.60 per share, those shares would generate approximately $365 in cash dividends.

That equates to a forward dividend yield of about 4.6%.

Because the dividend is expected to be fully franked, eligible Australian investors may also receive franking credits. On a $365 cash dividend, the franking credits could be worth upwards of $157, lifting the grossed-up value of the income to approximately $522.

It is important to remember that this does not mean every investor will receive the same after-tax benefit, because franking credits depend on personal tax circumstances.

But for investors who can use them, fully franked bank dividends can be particularly valuable.

Are Westpac shares a buy?

The dividend outlook looks solid, but broker sentiment is not especially bullish at present.

At this stage, none of the major brokers have buy ratings on Westpac shares.

However, Citi has a neutral rating and $37.50 price target on the bank’s shares. Based on the current share price of $35.01, that implies potential upside of approximately 7%.

When combined with the forecast FY 2027 dividend yield of around 4.6%, the total potential return would be nearing 12% if Citi’s recommendation proves accurate.

Overall, Westpac may not offer the explosive growth potential of some ASX shares, but it remains a major profit generator, a major dividend payer, and an important part of Australia’s financial system.

The post If I invest $8,000 in Westpac shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why has the ASX 200 given up its early rebound today?
• The RBA just held rates at 4.35%. Here’s what it means for these ASX bank shares
• What does the RBA decision mean for the big four bank shares?
• Brokers rate these 4 ASX 200 shares as a sell!
• Is the Westpac share price a buy in June?

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 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.

For investors approaching retirement, the focus often shifts from growth to income, stability, and capital preservation.

The goal is simple: build a portfolio that can generate reliable dividends across different economic cycles while still offering some protection against inflation and long-term change.

Here are four ASX shares that could help deliver decades of income.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra is one of Australia’s most defensive income stocks and perfect for a retirement portfolio.

As the country’s largest telecommunications provider, Telstra benefits from essential services demand. Mobile, internet, and data usage are deeply embedded in everyday life, helping support steady recurring revenue.

One of Telstra’s key strengths is its improved balance sheet and focus on infrastructure-led growth through its mobile network and enterprise services. This provides a foundation for relatively stable dividend payments over time.

The main limitation is modest growth, as the mature telecom market restricts earnings expansion. However, for retirees, Telstra’s defensive profile and income reliability make it a core portfolio candidate.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

This $14 billion ASX stock offers exposure to critical energy infrastructure.

The company owns and operates gas pipelines and energy assets across Australia, generating regulated and long-term contracted revenue streams. This provides a high level of earnings visibility, which is ideal for income-focused investors.

APA’s growth strategy includes expanding its renewable energy and electricity transmission capabilities, positioning it for a gradual transition in the energy sector.

However, regulatory risk and the long-term shift away from gas remain key considerations. Despite this, APA’s predictable cash flows have historically supported consistent distributions. An important characteristic for retirement.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is a diversified powerhouse that blends income with quality growth.

Its portfolio includes Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, and other retail and industrial businesses. These operations generate strong cash flow, supporting reliable dividends while also allowing reinvestment for future growth.

Bunnings in particular provides a defensive earnings base, while Kmart has proven its ability to thrive in value-driven retail environments.

The trade-off is valuation risk, as Wesfarmers currently trades at a premium due to its high-quality businesses. Still, its track record of disciplined capital management makes it a strong long-term income holding.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

This ASX giant adds a global resource and dividend engine to the retirement portfolio.

As one of the world’s largest diversified miners, BHP benefits from exposure to iron ore, copper, and other key commodities. Its scale, low-cost operations, and strong balance sheet support substantial dividend payments over time.

BHP also offers indirect exposure to long-term global trends such as electrification and infrastructure development, particularly through its copper assets.

The main risk is commodity price volatility, which can significantly impact earnings and dividends from year to year.

Building a retirement income portfolio

Together, Telstra, APA Group, Wesfarmers, and BHP offer a diversified mix of defensive income, infrastructure stability, quality retail earnings, and global resource exposure.

While each carries its own risks, combining them can help smooth income over time and provide retirees with a balance of yield, reliability, and long-term resilience.

The post Close to retirement? 4 ASX shares for decades of income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX 200 shares I would buy if I were starting from scratch
• Should I buy Telstra shares for passive income?
• How to invest in ASX shares when you can’t find stocks to buy
• Here are my 5 best ASX passive income stocks
• How I’d choose the best ASX shares I could hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Regardless of the size of your superannuation savings pool, an extra $10,000 a year in passive income is always welcome.

If you’re looking to give your retirement lifestyle a boost, then buying the right ASX dividend shares offers one of the best means I know of to achieve that extra income.

One of the advantages ASX investors have, which investors in US and many international stocks don’t, is that a lot of ASX dividend shares come with full franking credits. And these credits won’t be directly impacted by the Federal Budget’s proposed tax changes.

If you’re not familiar, franking credits mean that you get credit for some, or all, of the 30% in corporate taxes that the companies you’re investing in have already shelled out to the ATO on the profits they make.

How much to invest in ASX shares for $10,000 a year in passive income?

Now, just how much you need to invest in ASX dividend shares today to bank that $10,000 in annual passive income depends on how long you have before you plan to retire and tap into your superannuation savings.

One of the golden rules of investing is that the earlier you start, the better your results.

That’s thanks to the magic of compounding.

Here’s what I mean.

Assuming you can achieve an average dividend yield of 6.5% (as we’ll look at below), you’d need to invest $153,846 in ASX shares today to add $10,000 a year to your superannuation savings.

Now, here’s the power of compounding at work.

By investing in a combination of blue-chip stocks and ASX growth shares, I believe you can achieve an average annual return of 10.5%.

By investing just $100 a month in ASX shares, you’d then have $21,386 in 10 years, $81,860 in 20 years, and the required $153,846 somewhere in year 26.

So, what are you waiting for?

Two superannuation boosting ASX dividend shares to consider today

There are a number of quality ASX dividend shares you may wish to buy to top up your superannuation income.

Two passive income stocks you might want to dig into are ASX 200 oil and gas producer Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and ASX 300 alternative investment manager Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL).

Both companies pay fully franked dividends. And, importantly, both have outperformed their benchmarks over the past year. Meaning we’re not chasing yields at the expense of capital losses.

Indeed, at the time of writing, Woodside shares have gained 13.8% over the past 12 months while the Regal Partners share price has surged 39.6%. For some context, both the ASX 200 and the ASX 300 have gained less than 5% over the past year.

As for that superannuation boosting passive income, Woodside shares trade on a 5.7% fully franked trailing dividend yield. And Regal Partners shares trade on an even juicier 7.3% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

Based on those trailing yields, an equal investment in each ASX dividend stock would then see you earning a 6.5% yield on Woodside and Regal Partners shares.

The post How I’d aim for $10,000 a year in superannuation boosting passive income buying ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Oil prices slump to pre-war levels as supply-risk premium evaporates
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Why has the ASX 200 given up its early rebound today?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Why Karoon Energy, Novonix, Transurban, and Woodside shares are sinking today

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 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.

Starting an ASX share portfolio from scratch can feel like a big decision.

I think the best approach is to start with businesses that can provide the portfolio with a strong foundation. That means looking for companies with scale, staying power, sensible growth options, and the ability to remain relevant through different market conditions.

If I were starting again today, these are five ASX 200 shares I would want on my watchlist.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

BHP is the kind of share I think can give a new portfolio exposure to some of the world’s most important raw materials.

Iron ore still provides major cash flow, but I think the more interesting long-term angle is how the business is being shaped around future-facing commodities. Copper, in particular, could become even more important as electricity grids, data centres, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and industrial systems require more metal.

The Jansen potash project also gives BHP another long-term growth option tied to food production and farming productivity.

BHP will always be cyclical. Commodity prices can change quickly. But I think its scale, asset quality, and capital strength make it one of the better resource shares to own over many years.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Commonwealth Bank is the bank share I would start with.

CBA has a premium valuation, so I would never pretend it is the cheapest bank on the ASX. But I think it has earned its position as the highest-quality major bank.

The bank has a huge role in Australian financial life. Its customer relationships run through home loans, deposits, business banking, everyday payments, apps, merchant services, and financial tools.

That breadth is valuable because banking is becoming more digital and more data-driven. CBA’s advantage is not just that it has many customers. It is that many of those customers interact with the bank constantly.

For a new portfolio, I think that combination of scale, profitability, digital strength, and franked dividends is hard to ignore.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Hub24 is the platform business I would include.

Australia has a large and growing pool of wealth, and I think the way that money is managed will keep changing. Advisers need efficient systems, clients want better transparency, and investment portfolios are becoming more tailored.

Hub24 sits inside that shift. Its platform helps advisers manage portfolios, reporting, administration, and managed accounts. That may sound technical, but the value is simple: it can save time, reduce friction, and make advice businesses easier to run.

The company is exposed to market movements, and competition is strong. But I like businesses that become part of their customers’ daily workflow. Hub24 has that quality.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus is the highest-valuation stock in this group, but I still think it deserves a place.

The company provides medical imaging software through its Visage platform. Hospitals and radiology groups need systems that can handle large imaging files, support fast diagnosis, and integrate into complex clinical environments.

I like that Pro Medicus sells into a market where quality and reliability matter enormously. This is not software for a casual task. It is used in healthcare settings where speed, accuracy, and usability can make a real difference.

The risk is valuation. Expectations are high, and any disappointment could hurt the share price. But if I were starting from scratch, I would want at least one exceptional global software business in the portfolio. And with its shares down heavily from their highs, the risk/reward looks more favourable today.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is the blue-chip share I would buy.

What I like about Wesfarmers is the culture. The company has a long history of buying, building, improving, and sometimes exiting businesses when better opportunities appear elsewhere.

That discipline is valuable. Wesfarmers is not only about one retail brand or one store network. It is about management’s ability to reinvest capital, improve operations, and stay close to what customers want. Its balance sheet strength also gives it room to act when opportunities appear.

The share price can look expensive at times. But I think Wesfarmers has the type of operating discipline and long-term mindset that can help a portfolio compound steadily.

Foolish Takeaway

If I were starting an ASX 200 portfolio from scratch, I would want a mix of different strengths.

BHP brings resources exposure, CBA adds banking quality, Hub24 offers wealth platform growth, Pro Medicus provides global healthcare software, and Wesfarmers brings retail discipline and capital allocation.

No five shares can cover everything. But I think this group would give a new investor a strong starting point, with exposure to businesses that can keep adapting and creating value over time.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares I would buy if I were starting from scratch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to invest in ASX shares when you can’t find stocks to buy
• How I’d choose the best ASX shares I could hold for 10 years
• Where I’d invest $2,000 in ASX 200 shares
• BHP shares sink as investors react to $2.8 billion cost blowout
• Which Aussie blue-chip stock is the best performer so far in 2026?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, Hub24, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24 and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Hub24, Pro Medicus, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares have had an interesting start to 2026. 

After rallying around 18% to a 10-year high of $5.55 a piece in mid-May, the shares have cooled and fallen nearly 10% and are trading at around $5 at the time of writing.

It’s not all bad news though, Telstra shares are still higher than 12 months ago, at the time of writing.

It’s not all about share price gains and losses though, Telstra has plenty more to offer its shareholders.

What about Telstra’s passive income?

The telecommunications provider is a popular and reliable defensive ASX stock. 

It makes sense that the company has a defensive nature. After all, internet access and mobile phone connectivity are a daily necessity these days, they’re not a luxury like they once were in the past.

That means the company’s services are in demand regardless of the state of inflation or the cost-of-living.

This means Telstra shares tend to perform steadily throughout all stages of the economic cycle, which is great news for investors who want to hedge against potential volatility elsewhere in the index, too.

Its defensive nature and steady performance means Telstra is able to pay its shareholders a reliable, and constant passive income stream. What’s more, its dividend payout ratio is close to 100% of its earnings which unlocks a great dividend yield.

Telstra traditionally makes two fully-franked dividend payments to shareholders every year, payable in March and September. For FY25 the company paid investors an annual dividend of 19 cents per share. 

Earlier this year, Telstra announced that its first-half FY26 group underlying EBITDA had risen across all major business lines, mobile services revenue was 5.6% higher and group cash EBIT was 14% higher. Underlying operating expenses were also reduced by 2.4%. 

And this meant the telco was able to hike its interim dividend by 5.25% for the first half of FY26, and pay its shareholders 10.5 cents per share, 90.48% franked, in March.

Telstra is forecast to pay a total 20 cent dividend per share in FY26, and then 21 cents in FY27.

At the time of writing, these forecasts translate to a forward dividend yield of around 3.9% for FY26, and just roughly 4.1% for FY27.

What’s next for Telstra shares?

Analysts are unanimously neutral about the outlook for Telstra shares over the next year.

TradingView data shows all 12 analysts have a hold rating on the telco, but the average $5.25 target price still implies a potential 3% upside ahead.

The post Should I buy Telstra shares for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to invest in ASX shares when you can’t find stocks to buy
• Here are my 5 best ASX passive income stocks
• 5 years ago, $10,000 bought 2,801 Telstra shares. But how many would it buy now?
• Which is better: A 4% dividend yield or a 5% term deposit?
• How much is needed in superannuation to target an $8,000 monthly passive income?

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

As you enter your 40s, it’s a great time to have a look at your superannuation balance and see if you’re heading in the right direction.

With two decades at least up your sleeve there’s plenty of time to make some changes and get your super on the right track, even if it’s something you’ve not previously given a great deal of thought to.

Australians’ super balances generally looking pretty healthy

How do I know? By looking at the numbers.

It turns out that on average, Australians are ahead of where they need to be by age 40 to set themselves up for what the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) deems a comfortable retirement.

The most recent figures for the 40-44 age bracket published by ASFA show that on average, males have a superannuation balance of $140,680, while females have $109, 209.

Compare that to new figures out this week from ASFA which indicate that for someone earning $100,000 per year, a 40 year old only needs $98,000 in their super to consider themselves on track for a comfortable retirement.

And the amount we need for a comfortable retirement is less than many of us think, with the figure sitting at $730,000 for a couple and $630,000 for a single.

This is despite 42% of people polled by ASFA believing they needed more than $1 million to retire comfortably.

How to play catch up

So what if you’ve seen these figures and thought, my superannuation could do with a top up?

There is one key strategy that you could look into before the end of the financial year, which has the potential to both reduce your taxable income and boost your superannuation savings.

It is possible to make concessional contributions into your superannuation, which include the pre-tax payments made by your employer.

Each year you are allowed to make concessional contributions of up to $30,000. Extra contributions made beyond what your employer contributes can serve to reduce your tax load, as contributions are taxed at 15%.

In terms of figuring out how much extra you can put into your super in this way, it is possible to keep track of your concessional contributions by using the Australian Taxation Office’s online services.

Your superannuation fund might also be able to show you where you stand with regards to concessional contributions.

If you do put extra into your super and want it to be a concessional contribution, you need to also lodge a notice of intent to claim, which alerts your super fund that it is a concessional contribution and they will take the 15% tax out as necessary.

This is necessary as it is also possible to make non-concessional contributions of up to $130,000 per year.

It is also possible to make concessional contributions above the $30,000 cap, which is explained further in this article.

The post At 40 how does your superannuation balance compare? It might be time for a tune up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It has been a busy week for many of Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes hitting the wires.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this travel agent’s shares with an improved price target of $14.80. Morgans notes that given recent downgrades from other travel industry peers due to the conflict in the Middle East, it wasn’t surprised to see Flight Centre downgrade its earnings guidance. The broker believes that if it were not for the conflict, FY 2026 would have had a great year given its results for the first nine months were strong. Looking ahead, Morgans is positive on Flight Centre’s outlook and expects a strong rebound in the second half of FY 2027. As a result, it thinks investors should be buying Flight Centre shares while they are down, noting that when operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price will be materially higher. The Flight Centre share price is trading at $11.97 on Friday.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this energy giant’s shares with a reduced price target of $8.50. The broker has lowered its earnings estimates for energy stocks to reflect softer oil price assumptions after the Strait of Hormuz reopened following a US-Iran peace deal. Citi believes that there will be a sizeable oil surplus by 2027, which will weigh on oil prices. However, it remains positive on Santos and highlights that its shares trade at a discount to its larger rival Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) but believes this valuation discount could narrow in the future. The Santos share price is fetching $7.31 at the time of writing.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating and $18.60 price target on this job listings company’s shares. According to the note, the broker has been looking at industry data and appears positive. It believes that when interest rates start to fall, Seek will start outperforming like it did in previous cycles. Outside this, the broker believes AI disruption concerns are overdone and highlights its underlying proprietary data (~750m points per day) as a reason to be positive. Bell Potter notes that a lot of this is traffic metadata which is unable to be scraped by third parties, is valuable for targeted job placements, and should support yield through soft volume environments. The Seek share price is trading at $13.50 this afternoon.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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 Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.