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At the age of 62, your superannuation should be a priority.

After all, by this point, you can retire whenever you’re ready.

At age 62, Australians have passed their preservation age (60 years old) so they can access their super whenever they like.

They’re also just three years from the average retirement age (65 years old), and five years from receiving the Age Pension if eligible (67 years old).

The most important thing to work out before you retire is whether your superannuation balance is enough to fund the retirement lifestyle you want to live.

So, you want to retire comfortably at age 62? First, let’s break down what that might look like, and how much money you’ll need.

What does a comfortable retirement look like?

In Australia, retirement is generally split into two categories: a modest retirement and a comfortable one. 

A modest retirement, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), is defined as being able to cover expenses slightly above what the full Centrelink Age Pension would provide from age 67. 

Then, a comfortable retirement is defined as one that enables retirees to maintain a good standard of living well beyond the Age Pension. It budgets for expenses beyond a modest retirement, including top-tier private health insurance and regular leisure activities. It allocates funds for home repairs or renovations, and perhaps even an annual holiday. This is what the majority of Australians aim for.

How much does a comfortable retirement cost?

ASFA estimates that a comfortable retirement will cost roughly $55,923 per year for single Australians. For couples, the annual cost will be closer to $78,566. 

Note, however, that these figures assume you’ll receive a part of the Age Pension and that you own your home outright. It’s also expected that you have an emergency fund set aside.

Ok, so how much do I need in my superannuation by age 62 to be able to afford that?

In order to fund a modest comfortable retirement, ASFA calculates that single Australians will need around $630,000. Meanwhile, couples will need around $730,000 combined.

But there is a catch.

These figures are calculated on the assumption that you’ll access your superannuation from age 67.

They also assume you’ll need to fund around 10 years of a comfortable retirement.

So, if you’re planning to retire earlier, at age 62, you’ll need to factor in those five additional years.

I’ve done a quick calculation using ASFA’s figures to work out the sum you actually need to retire at age 62.

Singles will need to have closer to $840,000 in their superannuation. Meanwhile, couples will need a combined balance of around $1.2 million at age 62. This assumes you’ll need to fund around 15 years of retirement. 

But remember, if you don’t own your home outright, you’ll also need to consider how you’ll pay your mortgage or rent on top of your other bills and budget accordingly.

The post How much do I need in my superannuation to retire comfortably at age 62? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much superannuation should Australian couples have before retirement?
• Magnificent 8? Meet the US tech stock up 215% in 2026
• If I invest $10,000 in CBA shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares
• VIHY: Is Vanguard’s new ASX dividend ETF a buy for 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 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.

Retirement planning can look a little less intimidating when two people are approaching it together.

Couples often have two super balances, two working histories, and the ability to share many of the largest household costs.

Even so, deciding whether there is enough money to retire comfortably is rarely as simple as adding the two balances together and hoping the result looks reassuring.

The better question is whether the combined super, other savings, and any future Age Pension payments can support the lifestyle both people expect after work.

What is the benchmark for couples?

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, a homeowner couple needs around $730,000 in super at retirement to support a comfortable lifestyle.

That estimate assumes the couple owns their home outright and receives some Age Pension support as their savings decline over time.

A comfortable retirement is not intended to represent an extravagant lifestyle. It allows for private health insurance, a reliable car, regular leisure activities, household repairs, domestic holidays, and occasional overseas travel, while also leaving some room to deal with unexpected costs.

For couples expecting a simpler lifestyle, ASFA estimates that around $120,000 in combined super may support a modest retirement for homeowners. At that level, however, the Age Pension would be expected to provide most of the couple’s income, and there would be much less room for travel, larger purchases, or financial surprises.

Why couples do not need twice as much as singles

The comfortable retirement target for a couple is only moderately higher than the $630,000 benchmark for a single homeowner.

This may initially appear surprising, but couples can share many major expenses. They usually pay for one home, one electricity connection, one internet service, and many of the same household items that a single retiree must fund alone.

That creates an important advantage, although couples should not assume that every cost will be shared evenly. Healthcare, hobbies, travel preferences, and personal spending can still vary considerably between two people.

The shared-cost benefit also means that relationship status can have a major influence on how far a super balance stretches. A couple with $730,000 may be able to achieve a comfortable lifestyle, while a single retiree with half that amount could face a much tighter budget.

Is $730,000 enough for every couple?

The ASFA figure is a guide rather than a guarantee, and some couples will require substantially more.

Those who plan to retire early may need to fund several years before becoming eligible for the Age Pension. Couples who are still paying a mortgage, renting privately, travelling frequently, or supporting adult children may also need a larger balance.

Health can change the calculation as well. Private health insurance, dental treatment, home modifications, mobility assistance, and care costs can place additional pressure on retirement income.

Other couples may find that they need less than the benchmark because they own a low-maintenance home, have modest spending habits, or receive income from investments outside super.

Combined balances can make a major difference

One benefit of planning as a couple is that two moderate balances can create a strong combined position.

For example, two people retiring with $365,000 each would together meet the current comfortable benchmark. Neither balance looks especially large in isolation, but the household position is much stronger once they are combined.

This is why couples should review their retirement finances together rather than treating each superannuation account as a separate plan. Contribution strategies, investment risk, retirement dates, pension eligibility, and expected spending all affect the household outcome.

It may also make sense for one partner to contribute more heavily to super at certain times, particularly when there is a large difference between balances or taxable incomes. The appropriate strategy will depend on the couple’s circumstances and may be worth discussing with a qualified adviser.

The real retirement target

A couple’s retirement target should ultimately be based on expected spending rather than a single headline number.

Housing is likely to be the largest dividing line. A couple with a paid-off home and $600,000 in superannuation may feel more secure than renters with a substantially larger balance because ongoing housing costs can absorb a significant share of retirement income.

The timing of retirement matters as well. Working for an additional year or two can allow further contributions, provide more time for investment growth, and shorten the period that super needs to fund.

Foolish takeaway

A homeowner couple aiming for a comfortable retirement should currently target around $730,000 in combined superannuation, while a modest retirement may be possible with around $120,000 and substantial Age Pension support.

Those figures provide a reasonable starting point, but the right amount will depend on housing, retirement age, spending expectations, health, and other assets.

The strongest position is not necessarily having the largest possible balance. It is having enough combined income and flexibility to support the retirement that both partners have in mind.

The post How much superannuation should Australian couples have before retirement? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Magnificent 8? Meet the US tech stock up 215% in 2026
• If I invest $10,000 in CBA shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares
• VIHY: Is Vanguard’s new ASX dividend ETF a buy for income?
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 this week

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.

Most ASX investors have heard of the Magnificent 7, I’d wager. That catchy label refers to seven of the largest tech stocks in the world that all call the United States of America home. These US tech stocks have been incredibly lucrative investments in recent years.

You probably don’t need reminding, but Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA), Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) are all dominant forces in the global economy. Each has carved out an enduring presence in the personal and professional lives of people all around the world.

And each has delivered eye-watering returns over varying lengths of time.

However, a recent look at the top echelons of the US markets has prompted me to ponder that perhaps the ‘Magnificent 7’ is becoming an outdated label. Thanks to the rise of another high-flying US tech stock, we might have to expand it to the ‘Magnificent 8’, or perhaps the ‘Electric 8’ for the innovators.

The US tech stock I’m referring to goes by the name of Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ: MU).

A new titan of a US tech stock?

Micron is a semiconductor company that manufactures chips, memory, drives, and other data processing and storage products.

To put it simply, this company has gone parabolic in recent months, as have many semiconductor and chip stocks. One year ago, you could have picked up this US tech stock for US$122.24 a share. By the start of 2026, Micron shares were asking US$315.42. Today, one Micron share will set you back a whopping US$991.64.

That means Micron is up almost 215% year to date, and up a jaw-dropping 705.5% over the past 12 months.

These gains give the company a market capitalisation of US$1.11 trillion today. So we have another trillion-dollar tech stock at the top of the US markets. This puts Micron as the tenth-largest stock in the entire S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), and thus in the popular iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) index fund. This US tech stock is also now the third-largest holding in the also popular BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ). 

Even if you don’t own Micron shares, or these ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs), directly, it’s likely that your superannuation fund now has a significant Micron investment. 

As such, we’d all better keep an eye on this US tech stock.

The post Magnificent 8? Meet the US tech stock up 215% in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• US chip stocks were smashed overnight. So why are ASX tech shares rising?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are usually among the most popular dividend holdings because of their blue-chip status and satisfactory dividend yield.

However, the ASX bank share‘s dividend yield isn’t exactly the biggest in the sector. It usually has the smallest dividend yield compared to names like National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ).

But what CBA lacks in dividend yield, it makes up for in its dividend growth over the past 15 years and payout stability.

Pleasingly, the bank has increased its annual dividend each year since FY20 following the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commonwealth Bank’s latest result was another period of good performance by the ASX bank share. The CBA interim dividend per share increased by 4% to $2.35, funded by 6% growth in cash net profit after tax (NPAT).

Let’s take a look at what analysts think the business could deliver in the 2027 financial year, which recently started.

2027 dividend projection for owners of CBA shares

According to the independent projection on Commsec, the ASX bank share is projected to pay an annual dividend per share of $5.15 in the 2027 financial year.

At the time of writing, the forecast translates into a dividend yield of 3.1% excluding franking credits and a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.5% including franking credits.

If someone were to invest $10,000 in Commonwealth Bank, they would be able to buy 60 CBA shares (with a little bit of money left over).

With those 60 CBA shares, investors could receive $309 of cash and $441.43 overall, including the franking credits.

Is this a good time to invest in Commonwealth Bank?

According to CMC Invest, there have been eight analyst ratings on the business in the last three months.

Of those eight, all of them have been a sell rating. So, the investment professionals are very negative on how appealing the company’s valuation is right now.

The average price target of those eight ratings is $120.38, according to CMC Invest. That means, collectively, those analysts are predicting the CBA share price could drop by 27% within the next year, at the time of writing.

After the Federal budget, the Commonwealth Bank share price dropped below $154, though it has somewhat recovered from that recent low point.

It seems there are better ASX shares out there that we can buy.

The post If I invest $10,000 in CBA shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• VAS vs. VHY: Which is the better ASX ETF for retirement?
• How much do I need in my superannuation to get $50k per year in passive income?
• Your FY27 tax return will look different. Here’s what changed and how to prepare
• How to go from zero to $50,000 with ASX shares
• Forget CBA shares! I’d rather buy these ASX dividend shares

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.

Owning ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares usually means getting a good dividend yield due to the bank’s typically rewarding payout.

As an ASX bank share, ANZ typically has a relatively low price/earnings (P/E) ratio and a fairly generous dividend payout ratio. This combination leads to a solid yield.

The bank is predicted to continue to deliver pleasing payouts for shareholders over the next couple of financial years.

FY26

We’re already more than three-quarters of the way through ANZ’s 2026 financial year, which ends on 30 September 2026.

The company’s FY26 half-year result was promising for the ASX bank share.

Compared to the second half of FY25 (and excluding FY25 second half significant items), HY26 cash profit saw operating expenses decline by 9%, cash net profit before provisions climbed 12%, and cash profit grew 14%.

With that result, ANZ’s board of directors decided to maintain its interim dividend per share at 83 cents – the same as six months ago.

The projection on Commsec suggests the ASX bank share could pay an annual dividend per ANZ share of $1.66 in FY26. That possible 2026 financial year payout would be the same as the FY25 payout.

At the time of writing, ANZ’s dividend yield for FY26 could be 4.6% excluding franking credits and 6.1% including franking credits.

FY27

When the company announced its FY26 half-year result in May, ANZ CEO Nuno Matos gave some commentary on the evolving situation for the local economy and what it could mean for customers (and owners of ANZ shares):

Our customers understand the world is more complex. Our corporate customers have been preparing for shocks, building capital and liquidity, maintaining flexibility and improving supply chain resilience. As such, there has been no material change in the overall borrowing behaviour of our customers.

Likewise, in both Australia and New Zealand, households entered this period with generally strong balance sheets and high savings buffers. We have not seen any material increase in new customers entering hardship or receiving assistance. However, we recognise that some individuals and businesses are navigating these challenging circumstances.

…Reflecting this raised risk in the external environment, we have increased our collective provisions, with our coverage ratio up 4 basis points. We continue to watch the situation closely.

The result announced today confirms our actions to reset the bank are working, but we have more to do. As we look ahead, we continue to focus on executing our ANZ 2030 strategy as we progress our five-year journey to be the best bank for customers and shareholders in Australia and New Zealand         

ANZ borrowers (and prospective borrowers) will also have to deal with the flow-on effects of the Australian Federal Budget, including potentially lower investor demand due to changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT).

Overall, while ANZ is doing its best to reduce its cost base and become more profitable, it’s operating in a difficult environment.

According to the projection on Commsec, ANZ is expected to maintain its dividend at $1.66 per ANZ share in FY27.

That means it would offer the same dividend yield next financial year – 4.6% excluding franking credits and 6.1% including franking credits.

In my view, there are other ASX shares that could be better buys for the long-term.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in my superannuation to get $50k per year in passive income?
• How many Westpac shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?
• 5 best ASX 200 financial shares of FY26
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings for FY27
• This is the ASX bank stock I would buy today for franked dividend income

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.

Veteran index fund and exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider Vanguard recently announced a new slate of ASX ETFs. Amongst them was the Vanguard International Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VIHY).

ASX shares are well known for their income potential (not to mention those beloved franking credits). So this new ASX ETF has some stiff local competition. Additionally, the ASX is also home to a few ASX ETFs, both locally and internationally focused, that prioritise generating dividend income for their investors. Some popular examples include the BetaShares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD) and the State Street SPDR S&P Global Dividend ETF (ASX: WDIV).

So today, let’s see how this new ASX ETF from Vanguard measures up.

What’s in this new VIHY Vanguard ETF?

To start off with, the Vanguard International Shares High Yield ETF tracks the FTSE All-World ex Australia High Dividend Yield Net Tax Index. This index represents more than 2,300 individual dividend stocks from all over the world. VIHY itself currently holds around 1,600, so already we can see that this is a relatively massive fund in terms of scope.

Like many internationally-focused ETFs in Australia, VIHY is America-heavy. As of 31 May, 41% of its portfolio consisted of US stocks. Japan contributed the next-highest weighting at 9.9%, followed by the United Kingdom (7.1%), Canada (4.6%), Switzerland (4.5%), France (4.4%), and Taiwan (3.5%).

But let’s get into what this ASX ETF actually holds in its portfolio.

Many of its top holdings are well-known US dividend payers. These include JPMorgan Chase & Co, Exxon Mobil Corp, Johnson & Johnson, Cisco Systems, Chevron Corp, Coca-Cola, Philip Morris International, Toyota, and Procter & Gamble.

Moving on to this ASX ETF’s dividend potential, VIHY pays out its dividend distributions quarterly. It has only declared one payment to investors so far, a dividend distribution worth 49.49 cents per unit. This will be paid out later this month on 16 July.

If we annualise this payment (by assuming that its next three match its first), we get a potential 12-month dividend distribution total of $1.98 per unit. At the current (at the time of writing) price of $54.68, we get a potential yield of 3.62%.

Now, that’s very arbitrary at this stage. We don’t yet know what VIHY’s next few dividend payments will look like. However, if investors are looking for an easy income investment that would diversify an ASX-heavy dividend portfolio, this ASX ETF might be worth considering.

 

 

 

 

 

The post VIHY: Is Vanguard’s new ASX dividend ETF a buy for income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 this week
• 2 ASX shares near 52-week lows I’d buy today
• VAS vs. VHY: Which is the better ASX ETF for retirement?
• Where to invest $50,000 in ASX ETFs this month
• How much do I need in my superannuation to get $50k per year in passive income?

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Coca-Cola, Philip Morris International, and Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Chevron, Cisco Systems, and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson and Philip Morris International. 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.

If I had a spare $5,000 to invest in ASX shares this week, here’s where I’d put my money.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 shares had a difficult start to 2026, but have now rebounded around 46% from an annual low in mid-May.

It’s good news for investors, but the ASX tech company’s shares are now around 53% below an all-time high set in October last year and 19% lower year to date. 

The ASX shares were caught up in a tech-sector-wide sell-off over the past nine months. Investors sold their tech shares amid growing fears that companies’ core services could be replaced by AI. 

At the same time, there has been some concern that some tech company share prices, including Life360, had become overpriced and were trading above fair value.

But I think the shares have been oversold, and there is huge growth potential ahead.

Life360 reported a 38% increase in quarterly revenue, mostly driven by a 32% increase in subscription revenue and a 36% increase in core subscription revenue. The company also upgraded its FY26 adjusted EBITDA and revenue guidance, showing that the business is profitable and performing well.

Market Index data shows brokers have a strong buy consensus on the stock. The $32.01 average target price implies a potential 22% upside, at the time of writing.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

After a strong start to the year, Eagers shares have gradually tumbled, down around 15% for the year-to-date, at the time of writing. 

It’s not all bad news, though. The ASX automotive company’s shares have rebounded since hitting an annual low in early June.

ASX consumer discretionary shares have outperformed over the past month thanks to tailwinds from renewed confidence around interest rate cuts and softer-than-expected inflation figures last month. 

Eagers itself has recorded some impressive financial results recently too. 

In May, the company reported that its Australia and New Zealand turnover was up 5% year-on-year for the four months to April. The company’s order book climbed 70% from the previous quarter, and NPAT was up 40% year-on-year.

I see the headwinds continuing for Eagers shares this year.

Brokers are bullish too. They tip a 25% potential upside ahead for the ASX shares, to an average $26.04 per share, at the time of writing.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

While Flight Centre shares have rebounded strongly from a multi-year low in mid-May, they’re still down around 18% year to date at the time of writing. 

I think that even after the latest share price increase, the ASX travel share still presents a fantastic buying opportunity for investors.

It looks like travel demand is still strong, and fuel price volatility has lessened over the past month. If these both continue then I think we’ll see even more investors buy back into the shares.

The company is also due to release its FY26 earnings results in late-August. If the result comes in ahead of market expectations we could see a quick uptick in Flight Centre shares.

Brokers agree too. Market Index data shows a consensus buy rating for the ASX shares over the next 12 months. The average $15.36 target price implies a potential 23% upside ahead, at the time of writing.

The post 3 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 9 ASX 200 shares with reiterated buy calls this week
• 3 strong ASX passive income shares I’d buy now
• Which ASX 200 sectors paid the highest dividend yields in FY26?
• Flight Centre shares rebound 30% from multi-year low: Can they keep climbing higher?
• 7 ASX 200 shares given buy ratings this week

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 positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd and 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.

The ASX share market is seeing its fair share of volatility this month; it could be a great opportunity to invest in ideas trading near 52-week lows.

Certain companies’ performance can be closely linked to consumer confidence in the short term. But downturns shouldn’t last forever, so I view any pessimism as a chance to buy the dip.

The two ASX shares below have shown their ability to grow over the long-term. Let’s get into why I think they’re buys.

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF)

At the time of writing, the Collins Foods share price has fallen more than 30% since December 2025, as the chart below shows. I think the KFC franchisee operator is now very good value.

I believe it still has significant growth potential in both Australia and Europe.

The FY26 result included a number of positives, including revenue growth of 8.6% to $1.59 billion, underlying operating profit (EBIT) growth of 10.1% to $130.7 million and underlying net profit growth of 13% to $61.4 million.

Collins Foods was also able to reduce its net debt by close to $18 million, while increasing the annual dividend per share by 7.7%.

The first eight weeks of FY27 saw total KFC sales growth of 6.7% in Australia and 26.4% in Germany, but a 5.2% decline in the Netherlands. Same-store sales growth was 4% in Australia, but there was a decline of 7.2% in Germany and 7.8% in the Netherlands. The company noted consumer sentiment was weak in Europe amid the Middle East conflict and high fuel prices.

I think the company can have a good FY27 and beyond. It’s expecting a stable cost environment in FY27 and plans to open between seven and ten restaurants in Australia and another seven in Germany.

According to Commsec’s projection, the Collins Foods share price is valued at less than 15x FY27’s estimated earnings, with further earnings growth projected for FY27 and FY29. This looks like the right time to invest near its 52-week low.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

The other ASX share that looks cheap to me is this leading Australian online business that sells furniture, homewares, and home improvement products.

The Temple & Webster share price is down more than 70% in the past year and has fallen more than 60% in 2026 to date, as the chart below shows.

The company has seen customer demand slow over the past year, so it is currently looking to maximise its profitability. April 2026 was the most profitable April in its history, with operating profit (EBITDA) of around $2.5 million.

For FY26, the company expects to grow its revenue by between 11% and 12%, and grow EBITDA by between 6% and 17%. Management believes FY27 EBITDA could close to double, even in a low-growth scenario.

The company is benefiting from rising adoption of e-commerce by households. Australia is following UK and US trends, but just a few years behind, suggesting online shopping could account for 30% or more of the Australian homewares and furniture market by the end of the decade.

Temple & Webster also suggests that the uplift in profitability and its strong balance sheet position the company for both organic and acquisition growth.

According to Commsec’s projection, the Temple & Webster share price is valued at 38x FY27’s estimated earnings. I think it looks great value at this level, near its 52-week low.

The post 2 ASX shares near 52-week lows I’d buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How should I invest my money in FY27?
• Buy, hold, sell: Collins Foods, Karoon Energy, and Pro Medicus shares
• Which ASX 200 share offers 36% upside and a 4.2% dividend yield?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Which ASX 200 share is jumping 8% on results day?

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

Two of the most popular ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the market today are Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY).

In an article, Jamie Nemtsas, founder of retirement wealthy advisory, Wattle Partners, explains which ASX ETF he likes better for clients in retirement.

The result may surprise you.

What are VAS and VHY ETFs?

Firstly, let’s go over the differences between VAS ETF and VHY ETF.

VAS ETF

VAS provides easy exposure in a single trade to the top 300 companies by market cap on the ASX. 

The ETF seeks to mirror the returns of the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), before fees.

ASX VAS is the most popular ETF on the market, with $25.7 billion in funds under management (FUM).

VHY ETF

VHY ETF is full of ASX dividend shares that have higher forecast dividend yields than their peers.

This ETF tracks the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index, before fees.

VHY ETF has a few rules: It doesn’t invest more than 40% of funds in any one industry, nor more than 10% in any one stock.

VHY holds 73 shares across all sectors bar real estate investment trusts (REITs), and has $7.67 billion in FUM.

Both ASX ETFs pay distributions (dividends) quarterly.

VAS vs. VHY ETF in retirement

Nemtsas reviewed the 15-year performance of the VAS and VHY ETFs to decide which one he felt was the better pick for retirement.

His answer: VAS.

Nemtsas said:

While a high-dividend ETF looks tempting for retirement income, the hidden structural trade-offs can derail long-term wealth.

Nemtsas gives five reasons as to why he prefers VAS ETF for retirement.

1. Portfolio diversification

VAS holds about 300 shares while VHY holds 73.

This means VHY’s portfolio is more concentrated in the banks and miners through their weightings.

The result, according to Nemtsas:

When BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) halves the dividend, as it has twice in the last decade, VHY feels it harder.

When the banks compress payout ratios under APRA pressure, VHY feels that harder too.

2. Management fees

VAS charges an annual management fee of 0.07% while VHY charges 0.25%.

The 18 basis point difference compounds. On a $500,000 holding, that is $900 a year.

Over 20 years of retirement, with reinvestment, that is closer to $35,000. Fees are the one input you can guarantee. Yield is not.

3. Fund turnover and capital gains tax (CGT)

Nemtsas says VAS turns over less than 5% of its portfolio per year, while VHY turns over closer to 37% because it chases yield.

The result is capital gains tax events inside the fund, distributed back to unit holders in non-cash form at the end of the year.

Retirees in pension phase wear less of this, but the structural inefficiency is real and persistent.

4. Total return vs. headline dividend yield

Nemtsas says VAS has produced a higher average total return of 8% than VHY at 6.8% over the past 10 years.

He says:

That is the cost of buying yield by ignoring price.

The names with the highest forecast yield are typically the names the market is least optimistic about.

Sometimes the market is wrong. Often it is not.

5. VHY ETF’s higher yield is not free

Nemtsas explains:

VHY’s 6% versus VAS’s 3.6% comes from two places.

First, higher payout ratios in the names VHY overweights.

Second, the screening methodology itself, which mechanically tilts toward stocks where the dividend is high relative to a depressed share price.

Both effects can persist for years. Both also reverse.

The franking benefit in VHY is real, but VAS picks up plenty of franking through its Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) exposure too.

The franking gap is narrower than the headline yield gap suggests.

The post VAS vs. VHY: Which is the better ASX ETF for retirement? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Macquarie Group, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A $50,000 investment can give investors a solid starting point on the ASX.

And with exchange traded funds (ETFs), it can easily be spread across Australia, global markets, technology, cybersecurity, and robotics.

Here is one way to invest $50,000 in ASX ETFs this month.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

I would start with the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

A $20,000 investment in this fund could form the core of the portfolio.

It gives investors exposure to a large number of companies across developed markets, such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and other major economies. This includes global healthcare companies, technology leaders, consumer brands, industrial businesses, and financial giants.

This fund could act as the foundation before adding more targeted ETFs around it.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

Next, I would consider putting $10,000 into the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF.

This fund provides broad exposure to the local share market. That means investors can own a slice of Australia’s banks, miners, healthcare shares, retailers, property groups, infrastructure businesses, and industrial companies in one trade.

It also gives the portfolio exposure to Australian dividends and franking credits.

The local market is not as deep as global markets, but it still deserves a place in a balanced ASX ETF portfolio.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

I would then put $7,500 into the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

Cybersecurity has become a permanent cost of operating in the digital economy.

Companies need to protect data, networks, cloud systems, employees, customers, and payments. As more activity moves online, the risks become larger and more complex.

This ASX ETF gives investors exposure to companies trying to solve those problems through identity security, endpoint protection, cloud security, threat detection, and network defence.

It is more targeted than a broad market fund, but the long-term demand drivers are hard to ignore.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

Another $7,500 could go into the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to Asian technology companies, including businesses linked to semiconductors, hardware, ecommerce, gaming, and digital platforms.

It is a different type of technology exposure from a US-focused fund. Asia plays a major role in both building the digital economy and serving large, fast-moving consumer markets.

The risks are higher because the fund is concentrated by region and sector, but the long-term growth potential remains attractive.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The final $5,000 could go into the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

This fund gives exposure to companies involved in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, drones, unmanned vehicles, and intelligent machinery.

It is a higher-risk holding, so I would keep the allocation smaller.

The opportunity is tied to industries trying to improve productivity, reduce labour constraints, and use smarter machines in more settings.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post Where to invest $50,000 in ASX ETFs this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to go from zero to $50,000 with ASX shares
• I’d buy these 5 ASX dividend investments for retirement income
• ASX ETFs are booming. Should you join in?
• How should I invest my money in FY27?
• 3 ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. 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.