Tag: Stock pick

It was a busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes being released. 

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:

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have upgraded this quick service restaurant operator’s shares to a buy rating with a $31.00 price target. The broker has been looking at recent industry data and notes that consumer spending has been soft, particularly at the low income side of the market. And with interest rates potentially heading higher from here, the broker concedes that the industry outlook is challenging. Nevertheless, it feels that this is more than priced into Guzman Y Gomez shares at current levels following recent weakness. As a result, the broker feels now could be an opportune time to invest. The Guzman Y Gomez share price ended the week at $25.61.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have upgraded this fashion jewellery retailer’s shares to a buy rating with a $27.00 price target. Bell Potter has been looking ahead to the company’s annual general meeting in November. The broker highlights its belief that Lovisa will experience relatively easier comparables and retain most of the growth reported at the start of FY 2027 when it provides its trading update. It notes that this will be supported by the fact that around 80% of revenue occurs outside Australia. The exit of a key competitor should also provide further support and offset risks in the local market. In light of this and recent share price weakness, the broker sees the current valuation as attractive. The Lovisa share price was fetching $22.62 at Friday’s close.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $24.60 price target on this network solutions company’s shares. According to the note, the broker believes Megaport is well-placed to continue benefiting from increased spending on artificial intelligence inference. In fact, Citi believes the only risk is executing on its strong compute pipeline. And with its strong balance sheet and attractive contract economics, the broker believes Megaport is positioned to pursue further contract wins. Though, it concedes that significant contracts could require another equity raising to fund. The Megaport share price was trading at $18.54 at the end of the week.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These 2 ASX fast food companies could jump 23% to 33%
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: Aurizon, Car Group, Guzman y Gomez shares
• Lovisa vs Temple & Webster: Which ASX retailer is the better growth stock today?
• Nextdc vs Megaport: Which ASX tech growth share comes out on top?

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Lovisa and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa and Megaport. 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.

Single pensioners will get an extra $36.80 per fortnight under inflation adjustments to the age pension effective today.

This raises the full pension payment to $1,237.70 per fortnight.

Couples on the full pension will receive an extra $27.80 per partner, per fortnight, or $55.60 combined per fortnight, from today.

This increases the full pension to $933 per partner, per fortnight, or $1,866 combined per fortnight.

Is the pension enough to fund your retirement?

No, it’s not.

Annually, the newly adjusted full age pension totals $32,180.20 for singles and $48,516 for couples.

The ASFA Retirement Standard, which is considered Australia’s benchmark retirement budgeting tool, lays out the costs of living today.

AFSA says a comfortable retirement costs $56,166 per year for single homeowners and $78,998 per year for couple homeowners.

A modest retirement costs $36,548 per year for single homeowners and $52,690 per year for couple homeowners.

For renters, a modest lifestyle costs $51,418 per year for singles and $69,376 for couples.

ASFA does not provide a cost estimate for a comfortable retirement for renters.

These figures are in today’s dollars, and ASFA adjusts them quarterly to account for inflation.

ASFA lays out exactly what it means by a ‘comfortable’ retirement and a ‘modest’ lifestyle here.

What’s the gap?

For a comfortable retirement, single homeowners receiving the full age pension need to plug a $23,985.80 hole every year.

Couple homeowners aiming for a comfortable retirement need to find $30,482 per year to cover the gap.

For a modest retirement, single homeowners receiving the full pension need another $4,367.80 to cover their living costs.

Couple homeowners getting the full pension need to find $4,174 per year to fund a modest retirement lifestyle.

Single renters on a full pension face a gap of $19,237.80 per year to fund a modest retirement.

Couple renters on a full age pension need to find $20,860 per year to fund their costs of living.

So, how do you find that extra money?

The most obvious way, of course, is superannuation.

When people retire, they typically transfer their superannuation from the accumulation phase into an account-based pension.

This moves their super into what’s known as the retirement phase, where investment earnings are generally tax-free.

Pension payments from your superannuation are also generally tax-free once you’re aged 60 or over.

But there’s a catch…

If you have a large amount of money in superannuation, you’re unlikely to be eligible for the full age pension from Centrelink.

However, as you draw down your super throughout retirement, you may eventually become eligible for the full payment, depending on the value of all your assets combined.

The pension is means tested using an assets test and an income test.

Assessable assets include your superannuation, ASX shares, bonds, investment properties, cash, and home contents.

Under the assets test, single homeowners whose assets are worth less than $333,000 qualify for the full age pension.

Single homeowners whose assets are worth between $333,001 and $745,750 are eligible for a part-payment.

Couple homeowners whose assets are worth less than $499,000 qualify for the full age pension.

Couple homeowners who have between $499,001 and $1,121,000 in assets are eligible for a part-payment.

The post Age pension rises $37 per fortnight today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• I’m planning to retire with $1 million in superannuation. How much passive income can I earn? 
• If I invest $15,000 in BHP shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• Rio Tinto vs APA Group: Which is better for passive income?
• Copper has overtaken iron ore – Here are the top copper shares to target

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.

Retiring with $1 million in superannuation to support a comfortable retirement is a great goal.

And, depending on your lifetime salary and whether you make additional voluntary contributions to your super over time, it’s certainly an achievable figure.

As for how much passive income you can earn from that $1 million balance, that will, of course, depend on the yield that you’re earning.

Now, for the purposes of this article, we’ll assume you have a sizeable amount of additional assets, as well as other liquid savings and investments to cover any unexpected costs. If not, it’s generally not advisable to invest all of your superannuation into the stock market.

But if that is the case, it could enable you to invest the full $1 million in quality S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dividend stocks. With history as our guide, this is a great means to achieve a reliable annual passive income stream.

We’ll look at a few of those quality ASX 200 dividend stocks below, as well as calculate how much passive income you might expect to receive from that $1 million in superannuation.

But first…

Inflation and trailing yields

The idea behind this $1 million superannuation investment is to earn an annual passive income stream without drawing down on the balance. You’ll also want to at least match inflation levels to ensure the real (inflation-adjusted) income you’re earning isn’t eroded over time.

Now, the S&P/ASX 200 Gross Total Return Index (ASX: XJT), which includes all cash dividends reinvested on the ex-dividend date, has gained 42.2% over the past five years. That works out to an annualised return of about 7.3% per year.

Remember that figure.

Also, remember that the dividend yields you usually see quoted are trailing yields. Future yields may be higher or lower depending on a number of company-specific and macroeconomic factors.

With that said…

How much passive income from a $1 million superannuation investment

We’ll look at three ASX 200 dividend stocks to give you some idea of the yield you might receive from that superannuation investment (based on market prices on 10 September).

First, Aussie fuel supplier Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares trade on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 5.7%.

Then we have big four ASX 200 bank stock Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). Westpac shares trade on a fully-franked 4.4% trailing dividend yield.

And third, ASX 200 telco Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares trade on a 4.3% trailing dividend yield, franked at 90%.

If you were to invest the same amount into each of the above ASX 200 dividend stocks, you could then expect a yield of 4.8%.

So, your $1 million superannuation should see you earning $48,000 a year in passive income, with tax benefits from those franking credits.

Now remember the 7.3% annualised gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Gross Total Return Index? That extra 2.5% in annual growth over the passive income yield should be enough to mitigate the eroding effects of inflation over time.

The post I’m planning to retire with $1 million in superannuation. How much passive income can I earn?  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Down 15% and paying record dividends: Are CBA shares now a good buy for passive income?
• 7 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings this week
• Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income
• Telstra vs NAB: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy?
• How many Telstra shares do I need to buy to earn $500 of passive income every month?

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 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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are among the most popular ASX dividend shares because of the company’s perceived strength and dividend yield.

The ASX mining share can offer a high dividend yield, though peers like Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) typically offer a higher yield.

However, while BHP may not always offer the highest dividend yield on the ASX, it can provide shareholders with diversification rather than dependence on a single commodity, which is appealing.

BHP produces iron ore, copper and coal. It’s also working on a potash (fertiliser) project in Canada called Jansen. By generating earnings from multiple resources, the business is able to lower the risk and volatility of being exposed to just one resource.

I thought the FY26 result was a great example of the ASX mining share’s ability to generate larger profits and dividends.

In FY26, BHP’s board of directors increased the annual dividend per share by 56% to US$1.72.

The business reported revenue growth of 15% to US$58.8 billion, underlying attributable profit growth of 30% to US$13.2 billion, profit from operations growth of 23% to US$23.9 billion and underlying operating profit (EBITDA) growth of 27% to US$32.9 billion.

Copper was the key driver of the result, with the average realised (meaning sold) price soaring 35% to US$5.74 per pound. This helped copper’s underlying operating profit (EBITDA) rise 48% to US$18.2 billion. Rising demand helped, particularly from electrification and data centres.

In this article, we’re not thinking about FY26 payments. We’re going to look at the potential FY27 annual dividend, which will be paid in 2027.

2027 dividend projection for owners of BHP shares

According to the projection on CMC Invest, the ASX mining share is projected to pay an annual dividend per share of $2.07 in the 2027 financial year, representing a sizeable potential reduction for Australians.

At the time of writing, that translates into a dividend yield of 3.4% excluding franking credits and 4.9% including franking credits.

If someone were to invest $15,000 in BHP, they would be able to buy 246 BHP shares, with a little bit of money left over.

With those 246 BHP shares, investors would receive $509.22 in passive income and $727.46 overall, including franking credits.

Is this a good time to invest in the ASX mining share?

According to CMC Invest, there have been 15 analyst rating calls on the business in the last three months.

Of those 15, 13 were a hold rating, one was a buy rating, and one was a sell rating. The investment professionals are very neutral on the appeal of the company’s valuation right now.

The average price target of those 15 ratings is $59.23. That means those analysts collectively predict the BHP share price could fall by 2% within the next year (at the time of writing).

For now, it seems like there are better ASX shares for Australians to buy.

The post If I invest $15,000 in BHP shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Copper has overtaken iron ore – Here are the top copper shares to target
• Bought $10,000 worth of BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned
• Are BHP, CBA, and CSL shares top buys?
• South32 vs Rio Tinto: 2 popular ASX mining shares compared
• Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Rio Tinto vs APA Group shares: Which is better for passive income?

Everyday Aussie investors often weigh Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) against APA Group (ASX: APA) when hunting for steady, passive income from shares. The two are giants in totally different fields — with Rio Tinto at the heart of mining, and APA Group a backbone for Australia’s energy infrastructure. Both throw off regular dividends, but which one is more compelling for those wanting a reliable stream of cash flow? Here’s how they stack up for income-focused portfolios.

The case for Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is one of the world’s largest miners, producing iron ore, aluminium, lithium, copper, and more. This global giant has been a mainstay of the ASX for decades. Its revenue streams are deeply tied to commodity cycles, but the company’s vast, low-cost assets and operational scale give it firepower for substantial and regular dividend payouts.

Looking at the latest numbers, Rio Tinto boasts a market cap of $61.76 billion and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.07. Its dividend yield stands at 3.99%, fully franked at 100%, meaning investors get the full benefit of franking credits. According to its most recent company profile, Rio Tinto has grown through many mergers and acquisitions, which has helped it become such a dominant force. Its scale, reliable cash flows, and tendency for occasional special dividends make it a go-to for income-seekers, especially those who value franking.

The case for APA Group

APA Group is Australia’s top energy infrastructure company, running a sprawling network of gas, electricity, solar, and wind assets. It owns and operates much of the country’s gas pipeline network and is steadily expanding into renewables. APA Group’s revenues are less sensitive to the wild ups and downs of commodities, thanks to long-term contracts and regulated assets. This can make its dividends feel steadier to income investors.

APA Group’s market cap is $14.27 billion, with a notably higher dividend yield at 5.39%. However, its P/E ratio is a lofty 68.36, which stands out compared to Rio Tinto’s much lower multiple. The franking level on APA’s dividends is well below Rio’s: the latest is just 31.4%, and looking back, many past dividends have variable (often low) franking. As of its company overview, APA Group actively invests in renewable assets amid its historical strength in gas. Investors who favour essential services or lower volatility in earnings may prefer APA’s business exposure and defensive qualities.

Recent share price performance

Here’s how their shares performed between 18 August 2026 and 17 September 2026.

• Rio Tinto: YTD return of 17.8%. During this month, the share price was somewhat volatile, starting around $167, peaking above $179 in early September before easing back to $166.09.
• APA Group: YTD return of 23.4%. APA shares began the period near $9.85 and rose steadily, ending at $10.78, representing a much smoother upward trend compared to Rio’s swings.

Which is the better buy?

For pure, reliable passive income, I’d lean toward Rio Tinto over APA Group. While APA Group boasts a punchier 5.39% yield and a record for steady dividends, its lower franking credit levels and extremely high P/E ratio (68.36) give me pause. By contrast, Rio Tinto’s 3.99% yield may not look as high at first glance, but it is fully franked, so the return after tax is more compelling — especially for those who benefit from franking credits.

Rio’s dividend history also shows substantial, ongoing payouts (plus occasional special dividends) backed by strong earnings and underlying cash flow. APA’s payout, while reliable, comes with much less franking and looks more stretched against its underlying earnings.

APA Group may appeal to investors more focused on lower earnings volatility and the appeal of essential infrastructure. But when I focus on the net after-tax income into my bank account — and factor in value metrics and payout sustainability — Rio Tinto is my pick for better passive income.

The post Rio Tinto vs APA Group: Which is better for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income
• 2 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork
• South32 vs Rio Tinto: 2 popular ASX mining shares compared
• Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income?
• Should I buy Rio Tinto shares for passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

A new report from Betashares has revealed that copper now represents a larger share of the earnings generated by Australia’s listed mining companies than iron ore. 

According to the report, based on the FY26 earnings of 42 mining/materials companies in the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR): 

• 34.4% of earnings came from copper
• 33.4% came from iron ore

Why is this significant?

Australia’s mining industry is entering a new phase. 

Iron ore has long been the dominant source of earnings for Australia’s major miners, but in FY26, copper edged ahead for the first time across the listed mining sector. 

The shift reflects both stronger copper prices and the growing importance of copper to Australia’s largest miners, as demand rises from electrification, power infrastructure, and AI-related investment.

Importantly for investors, this doesn’t mean Australia is producing more copper than iron ore, or that copper is a bigger commodity by tonnes, exports, or total sales. 

It’s specifically about earnings/profit contribution.

Why is this happening?

Copper has benefited from demand associated with AI infrastructure, electricity grids, data centres, and the clean-energy transition. 

BetaShares said the strength in AI and clean-energy investment has been supporting copper prices, while weaker Chinese demand has limited iron-ore prices.

Copper is one of the most important materials in building global AI infrastructure and for the green energy transition. Data centres, power distribution, wiring. All of it uses copper at extraordinary scale. So, while Australian investors cannot buy the AI companies directly through a local index, Australia’s mining sector is now one of the ways to benefit from these buildouts.

How to target copper shares

This structural shift is apparent in Australia’s biggest mining companies. 

Blue-chip stocks like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) are gradually shifting their growth strategies towards copper, rather than relying as heavily on iron ore for future growth.

In FY26, copper generated more than half of BHP’s underlying EBITDA for the first time, despite the company continuing to produce record amounts of iron ore.

This makes BHP a viable option for investors looking for copper exposure. 

Other copper shares worth considering for direct exposure include: 

• Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) – global mineral exploration and development company, largely focused on copper
• Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) – operates as a copper producer with a diversified portfolio of operating assets focused in the Americas
• Kaoko Metals Ltd (ASX: KAO) – exploration and development company, which acquires and explores mineral projects, primarily copper and gold in Namibia

Foolish takeaway 

Copper has overtaken iron ore as the largest contributor to earnings across Australia’s listed mining sector, reflecting stronger copper prices and rising demand from AI, electrification, and energy infrastructure. 

As major miners such as BHP increasingly focus their growth strategies on copper, investors have several ways to gain exposure, from diversified blue-chip miners to more copper-focused companies. 

The post Copper has overtaken iron ore – Here are the top copper shares to target appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Bought $10,000 worth of BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned
• Are BHP, CBA, and CSL shares top buys?
• South32 vs Rio Tinto: 2 popular ASX mining shares compared
• Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income?
• 5 ASX shares I’d recommend to beginners

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has positions in BHP Group. 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Five years ago, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares were catching plenty of attention from ASX passive income investors.

That’s because the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant kicked off 2022 by paying an all-time high fully franked interim dividend.

And BHP’s final 2022 dividend was second only to the record high 2021 final payout, spurred by soaring iron ore prices at the time.

While the next three years saw the BHP dividend decline each year, the miner’s FY 2026 dividend payouts reversed that trend, climbing 41.6% from 2025.

So, if you’d invested $10,000 in BHP shares in five years ago, just how much passive income would you already have received?

Investing $10,000 in BHP shares for passive income

Five years ago, on 17 September 2021 you could have picked up BHP stock for $34.87 per share.

So, for $10,000 you could have bought 286 BHP shares with enough change left over for a pizza.

On Thursday, the ASX mining giant was trading for $60.37 a share. Meaning those 286 shares are now worth $17,266.

Those are some tidy capital gains.

As for that passive income, if you’d owned the stock since September 2021, you would have received the last 10 BHP dividend payouts totalling $13.583 per share.

And those 286 BHP shares you bought for $10,000 would already have returned $3,885 in passive income.

Why is the BHP dividend back on the rise?

The 41.6% increase in the FY 2026 BHP dividend payouts was supported by a stronger than expected iron ore price and a surging copper price.

On the copper front, while production slipped 3% year on year to 1.953 million tonnes, the miner’s average realised price of US$5.74 per pound was up 35% from FY 2025.

This led to a 48% year on year increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from its copper division to US$18.2 billion. And it marked the first year where copper beat out iron ore on the earnings front, with the red metal contributing 54% contribution of BJP’s total underlying EBITDA of US$32.9.

And copper should continue to be a strong earner for the Aussie mining giant over the long-haul.

According to BHP:

Copper fundamentals remain attractive. Demand is expected to grow from ~34 Mtpa today to >50 Mtpa by CY50, driven by traditional economic growth (home building, electrical equipment and household appliances), energy transition (renewables and electric vehicles) and digital (artificial intelligence and data centres).

On the bottom line, the big uptick in the passive income from BHP shares in FY 2026 came amid the miner’s 30% increase in underlying profit, which climbed to US$13.2 billion.

The post Bought $10,000 worth of BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Copper has overtaken iron ore – Here are the top copper shares to target
• Are BHP, CBA, and CSL shares top buys?
• South32 vs Rio Tinto: 2 popular ASX mining shares compared
• Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income?
• 5 ASX shares I’d recommend to beginners

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) contains plenty of shares I would be comfortable owning for years.

For a 10-year investment, I would look for companies with strong positions today and plenty of room to keep growing.

With that said, these three ASX 200 shares would be high on my list.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero is already a major player in cloud accounting, but I still think the business has a long way to run.

Its software helps small businesses manage areas such as invoicing, payroll, payments, reporting, and everyday financial administration.

Once a business has moved its accounts onto Xero and connected its accountant and other applications, the software can become deeply embedded in how it operates.

That can make its platform very sticky and help Xero retain customers while also giving it opportunities to offer them more services over time.

I particularly like the size of the market still available. Xero had around 4.9 million customers in FY26, compared with a global addressable market of roughly 100 million small businesses.

Payments, payroll, artificial intelligence (AI), and its expansion into areas such as accounts payable could all help Xero become a larger part of how those businesses manage their finances.

Over the next decade, I think both customer growth and deeper use of the platform could drive the company much higher.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

ResMed would give me exposure to a completely different long-term opportunity.

The healthcare company develops devices, masks, and software for sleep apnoea and respiratory care.

ResMed has been growing for decades but is still only scratching the surface of its overall opportunity. More than one billion people globally are estimated to have sleep apnoea, while diagnosis and treatment rates remain relatively low. That leaves ResMed with a huge population still to reach.

Over a decade, I think the combination of an underserved healthcare need, recurring sales, and continued product development gives ResMed plenty of room to expand.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman would be my third ASX 200 share pick.

The property group owns and develops industrial assets in major cities around the world, including warehouses, logistics facilities, and increasingly data centres.

I like the locations Goodman has accumulated. Large sites with access to power, transport links, and major population centres can become increasingly difficult to secure as cities grow.

That puts Goodman in a strong position as demand increases for logistics facilities and digital infrastructure.

Data centres could become particularly important as cloud computing and artificial intelligence require more computing capacity and electricity.

Projects of this scale take time and capital to develop, but Goodman already has the land, relationships, and development expertise needed to participate.

Foolish takeaway

10 years gives these businesses plenty of time to build on the positions they already have.

Xero can reach more small businesses, ResMed can treat more patients, and Goodman can continue developing scarce infrastructure in major global markets.

I think those opportunities make all three ASX 200 shares worth considering for a long-term portfolio.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy and hold for a decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income could I make by investing $500 a month in ASX shares?
• 7 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings this week
• Forget Xero shares! Broker tips this top ASX tech stock for 24% gains
• 5 ASX shares I’d recommend to beginners
• CSL, Resmed, and more. See which ASX health stocks RBC Capital Markets has upgraded

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Goodman Group, ResMed, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. 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 paying more dividends than ever before.

And with shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock recently trading for $152.75 apiece, down 15.1% from their 6 August close, is CommBank stock now a good buy for passive income?

Let’s have a look.

Should I buy CBA shares for passive income?

While we could look at the forward dividend yields for CBA, those are simply based on analysts’ current best forecasts. Or guesses, if you will.

With the future inherently uncertain, we’ll instead base our investment case on the FY 2026 dividends. Or trailing yields. Just keep in mind that future yields may be higher or lower depending on a number of company specific and macroeconomic factors.

As for FY 2026, CBA paid a fully franked interim dividend of $2.35 a share on 30 March.

When the bank released its FY 2026 results on 12 August, it reported a 7% increase in cash net profit after tax (NPAT) to $11 billion.

This saw management declare a fully franked dividend of $2.70 per share.

That brings the total FY 2026 dividends to $5.05 a share, up 4.1% from FY 2025 and representing a new all-time high passive income payout.

And at the recent CBA share price, it sees Australia’s biggest bank trading at a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.3%.

So, how does the dividend yield from the other big four ASX 200 bank stocks compare?

How do the other ASX 200 bank stocks stack up?

While investors buying CBA shares today will receive materially higher future dividend yields than those who bought the stock in the first weeks of August, CBA’s dividend yield still trails its three biggest rivals.

For example, at recent share prices, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares both trade at dividend yields of 4.4%.

And Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares trade on a 4.5% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

What are analysts saying about CBA shares?

Despite the reliable passive income on offer, most analysts recommend steering away from CommBank stock at the moment. Many remain concerned the ASX 200 bank remains overvalued despite the past month’s share price retrace.

Earlier this week, Shaw and Partners’ James Bills issued a sell recommendation on CBA shares (courtesy of The Bull).

According to Bills:

In our view, the stock trades at a significant premium to domestic peers and on historical valuations.

While the bank maintains a high-quality franchise and strong market position, earnings growth is expected to remain modest amid competitive lending conditions and regulatory pressures.

Recent Federal government initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply and improving affordability is likely to lead to intensifying competition across the mortgage market and place pressure on lending margins.

Current valuations leave limited scope for further earnings driven upside. Investors may wish to take profits and re-deploy capital into opportunities offering stronger risk-adjusted return potential.

The post Down 15% and paying record dividends: Are CBA shares now a good buy for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Telstra vs NAB: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy?
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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has underperformed in 2026 compared to international markets. 

At the time of writing, Australia’s benchmark index is essentially flat year to date. 

But Aussie investors aren’t sitting around waiting for the tide to turn. 

Instead, they are looking towards international equities for stronger returns. 

A recent report from Betashares identified how this is playing out in the ASX ETF market. 

According to the report, international equities broke another monthly record in August at $3.8 billion in net inflows, surpassing July’s previous high of $3.56 billion. 

As a result of recent weakness in Australian equities, investors are rethinking their long-term investment plans with international equity ETFs emerging as a clear beneficiary. The category has now set a new all-time monthly record in consecutive months, while Emerging Market ETFs also saw record inflows this month.

For investors looking for global diversification with ASX ETFs, here are three that have performed well in 2026. 

Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

One of the best performing ASX ETFs this year from Betashares has been this Asian technology-focused fund. 

Up 32% year to date, it tracks the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) comprising the 50 largest technology and online retail stocks in Asia (ex-Japan). 

The big driver has been AI and semiconductor exposure.

It essentially offers another way of playing the AI boom, through the companies manufacturing the hardware rather than primarily through the US companies selling the software/services.

Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF (ASX: BEMG)

Another theme in 2026 has been emerging markets.

Emerging markets generally refer to countries or regions undergoing fast economic growth. 

Usually, countries that are undergoing growth and industrialisation.

In the case of this fund from Betashares, it offers exposure to large and mid-cap stocks across 24 emerging market countries.

Almost 80% of the fund is made up by companies from Taiwan, South Korea, China, and India. 

By sector, it has a strong weighting towards tech and financials. 

In 2026, it has risen over 14%. 

Vaneck MSCI International Value (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: HVLU)

Another internationally focused fund that has outperformed the Australian market this year has been this fund from VanEck. 

It provides a diversified portfolio of 250 international developed market large and mid-cap companies, with high value scores as calculated by MSCI at each rebalance, with returns hedged into Australian dollars.

The value rating is based on: price to book value, price to forward earnings, and enterprise value to cash flow from operations.

It has risen by over 22% year to date. 

The post Aussie investors are pushing their chips into international ASX ETFs – Here are three great options appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest $2,500 in ASX ETFs now
• 5 ASX ETFs to buy and hold forever
• 3 very exciting ASX ETFs for investors to watch
• Why these ASX ETFs could be strong long-term picks
• 3 exciting ASX ETFs to watch

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. 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.