If you're looking for dividend shares to buy this week to boost your passive income, then the two listed below could be worth checking out.

Both have recently been named as buys by analysts and tipped to provide generous yields. Here's what you need to know about them:

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

The first ASX dividend share that could be a top option for investors is this property company.

As its name implies, Charter Hall Long WALE REIT is focused on high quality real estate assets that are leased to corporate and government tenants on long term leases.

Citi is a fan of the company. This is due to its low risk income stream, ultra-long leases, sky-high occupancy rate, and inflation-linked rental increases.

The broker believes this will underpin the payment of dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT share price of $4.38, this will mean yields of 6.4% and 6.6%, respectively.

Citi currently has a buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd(ASX: UNI)

Another ASX dividend share that has been tipped as a buy is Universal Store.

Analysts at Morgans are bullish and have an add rating and $7.00 price target on the youth fashion retailer's shares.

After delivering a very strong half-year result last month, the broker appears confident this strong form can continue. This is thanks to a combination of its strong brands, expansion opportunities, and younger target demographic. The broker believes the "youth demographic is likely to be more resilient" in the current environment.

In respect to dividends, Morgans expects fully franked dividends per share of 30 cents in FY 2023 and 35 cents in FY 2024. Based on the latest Universal Store share price of $5.25, this equates to yields of 5.7% and 6.7%, respectively.

The post Buy these ASX dividend shares with big yields today: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX dividend shares could be the ticket for workers who want to replace their whole salary with passive income.

Businesses have great potential to be able to pay dividends and re-invest in their businesses, enabling income for investors as well as compounding profit.

Investors have more options for where to put their money these days. Some term deposits and savings accounts can offer investors a yield that starts with a 4%.

But, I don't think those investments that offer a fixed return are the way to build wealth because they don't produce any growth themselves.

That's why I think ASX dividend shares can be the tool that we use to build wealth.

How I'd plan to replace a salary with passive income

Before we get to the investing side of things, I think investors need to figure out how much they're able to save and what level of passive income they're aiming for.

Costs are quite a lot higher for households these days, with more expensive food and energy. It's okay if investors aren't able to save much in the current environment. Keeping a roof over one's head and putting food on the table is the most important thing.

I'd also suggest that each adult needs to ensure they're not trying to save too much and hurting today's enjoyment. What I mean by that is that people get older, circumstances change and so on – sometimes it's better to pay for an experience this year than wait for a distant future.

Having said that, I'd figure out how much we can save and invest. It could be $500 a month, $1,000 a month, $2,000 a month or even more.

Next, I'd want to work out what the dividend passive income goal is. Every household's expenditure is different. The desired expenditure could also be different.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia's Retirement Standard suggests that a couple that owns their own home will need an income of about $67,000, while a single person will need an annual passive income of more than $47,000.

Start saving and investing

I'd then get to work and start investing that $1,000 a month or $2,000 a month, perhaps more, into ASX shares. So, that would turn into $12,000 a year or $24,000 a year.

Of course, making an annual passive dividend income of $67,000 or more will take time to build.

Investing $1,000 a month, and if the portfolio grows at 10% a year, could achieve $1.18 million after 25 years.

Investing $2,000 a month, and if the portfolio grew by 10% per year, could rise to $1.37 million after 20 years.

Both of those totals may seem like a lot, but I think they're very achievable thanks to compounding. In the first example, investing $1,000 a month, it only takes the investor to add $300,000 of their own money – while $880,000 comes from investment returns in that example.

Which ASX shares to buy?

There are some ASX shares that I think can provide a solid amount of growth for investors and help compound a portfolio's value, such as Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) and Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ).

When investors get closer to the age or figures they're aiming for, I'd also want to consider some ASX dividend shares that pay good yields like Soul Pattinson, Wesfarmers, Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) and Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS).

A $1.2 million portfolio with a 5% dividend yield would produce an annual passive income of $60,000. That sounds great to me.

The post How I'd aim to replace an entire salary with passive income from ASX dividend shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This week, Westpac predicted the Reserve Bank will roll out no less than seven interest rate cuts throughout 2024 and 2025. If these eventuate, they will certainly bring some welcome relief for Aussie homeowners, who have been grappling with the rising cost of living and surging mortgage repayments since May 2022.

But we still have 2023 to get through. And unfortunately, on that front, the news is slightly less rosy.

Westpac is tipping two more rises this year and expects the cash rate to peak at 4.1% in June. Australia's oldest bank says that's where rates will stay for the remainder of the year, with the first cut not expected until March next year. 

One way to help ease the sting of inflation is with some additional income. But if you're already working as hard as you can, and don't have time for a side hustle, what then?

ASX dividend shares could be the answer. 

So, we asked our Foolish writers which ASX dividend stocks they think are worth buying in March for a passive income boost. Here is what they said:      

7 best ASX dividend shares for March 2023 (smallest to largest)

• Bailador Technology Investments Ltd (ASX: BTI), $177.68 million
• Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), $2.93 billion
• Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), $3.29 billion
• Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), $12.62 billion
• Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), $24.08 billion
• Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), $44.73 billion
• Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) $77.45 billion

(Market capitalisation as of 2 March 2023)

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX passive-income stocks

Bailador Technology Investments Ltd

What it does: Bailador is a growth capital fund focused on the IT sector. It looks to invest between $5 million and $20 million into tech companies seeking growth-stage investment.

Bailador prefers relatively young businesses with proven business models and "attractive unit economics". It also likes founder-led companies with international revenue generation, a significant market opportunity, and the ability to generate repeat revenue.

By Tristan Harrison: I like the investment style of Bailador, which has enabled its portfolio to perform well over the last three years, delivering an average annual return of 13.9%.

The company's dividend policy is to pay a fully-franked dividend yield of 4% per annum of pre-tax net tangible assets (NTA), paid semi-annually.

Its pre-tax NTA was $1.79 at 31 January 2023. But, because the latest Bailador share price at the time of writing was $1.22 – a 32% discount to the latest stated NTA – the yield on the actual share price is around 5.9%, or 8.4% grossed-up for franking credits.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares in Bailador Technology Investments Ltd.

Super Retail Group Ltd

What it does: You might know this company by its unmistakable red, yellow, and white automotive brand, Supercheap Auto. However, Super Retail Group is much bigger than its revving roots.

Today, it houses some of the strongest brands in Australian retail, including Rebel, BCF, and Macpac, in addition to Supercheap Auto.

By Mitchell Lawler: The latest half-year results from Super Retail Group were remarkably good, demonstrating the resiliency and diversity that Anthony Heraghty (CEO) and the team have built in the group.

Normalised earnings increased 36% on the prior corresponding year, adding to a commendable history of growth. Yet, the company trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 11 times. While this is roughly in line with the industry average, I believe it underappreciates the quality of the four individual brands.

In my opinion, the sum of the parts should skew the P/E ratio more toward 15 – placing the valuation closer to $4.1 billion than its current $2.9 billion.

Super Retail shares are currently offering a dividend yield of 5.3%. Remember, the stock's ex-dividend date is just around the corner, 8 March.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares in Super Retail Group Ltd.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT

What it does: Charter Hall Long WALE REIT is just that – a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on properties with long-weighted average lease expiries (WALE). As of the end of the first half, the REIT boasted 99.9% occupancy and an average WALE of nearly 12 years.

By Brooke Cooper: The Charter Hall Long WALE REIT share price has struggled lately, falling nearly 12% over the last 12 months, alongside the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) real estate sector.

But soaring inflation and rising interest rates weighing on the sector don't pose such a threat to this REIT.

Its tenants undergo annual rent increases, with half linked to CPI and the other half fixed at average increases of 3.1%.

And it's also tipped to grow its dividends. Citi forecasts the REIT to pay 28 cents per share this financial year. At that rate, Charter Hall Long WALE could boast a 6.2% dividend yield at its current share price.

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper does not own units in the Charter Hall Long WALE REIT.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd

What it does: Pilbara Minerals' primary focus is its 100%-owned Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project, located in Western Australia. The project is the world's largest independent hard-rock lithium operation.

By Bernd Struben: Pilbara Minerals is capitalising on the massive growth in electric vehicles (EVs) and grid storage batteries, which is likely to see global lithium demand continue to increase.

Last week, the company reported a 989% year-on-year increase in half-year net profit after tax (NPAT). Management also declared Pilbara's inaugural dividend of 11 cents per share (cps), fully franked.

CEO Dale Henderson called it "a huge milestone". He said with "massive growth steps in the months and years ahead, this is just the beginning".

Indeed, analysts at Goldman Sachs forecast Pilbara will pay a final dividend of around 20 cps, bringing the full-year payout to 31 cps. That equates to a 7.7% yield at the current share price.

Pilbara Minerals shares have gained 45% in 12 months.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares in Pilbara Minerals Ltd.

Coles Group Ltd

What it does: Coles Group is an ASX dividend share that needs little introduction. It is Australia's second-largest grocer and also has a significant presence in the takeaway alcohol market.

By Sebastian Bowen: This ASX 200 dividend heavyweight's income chops seem to go from strength to strength. Just last month, Coles delivered its latest earnings report.

Aside from announcing healthy rises in revenue and profits, Coles also increased its interim dividend yet again by 9.1% to 36 cents per share, fully franked.

This continues the pleasing pattern we have seen from this blue-chip share, which has ratcheted up its dividend every six months since floating on the ASX in its own right.

With inflation and interest rates still on the boil, I think Coles is a great place to look for dividend income this March.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares in Coles Group Ltd.

Woolworths Group Ltd

What it does: Woolworths is Australia's biggest supermarket retailer and also owns Big W.

By Bronwyn Allen: I like the defensive nature of this ASX dividend share. Woolworths is a mature, long-established business that will, arguably, continue to pay dividends no matter what the economy is doing.

In fact, in tough economic times, it may just pay you more. Case in point: This year's Woolworths interim dividend of 46 cents per share fully franked is almost 20% higher than last year's, thanks to strong 1H FY23 earnings.

In a clear demonstration that ASX consumer staples companies can tolerate inflationary impacts better than most, Woolworths raised its food prices by 7.7% in Q2 FY23, which is almost exactly in line with Australia's annual inflation rate of 7.8%.

The supermarket giant booked a 14% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $907 million over 1H FY23, with the value of sales up 4%.

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen does not own shares in Woolworths Group Ltd.

Westpac Banking Corp

What it does: Westpac is one of Australia's largest banks. It operates under several brands, including St George, Bank of Melbourne, Bank SA, and of course, Westpac.

By James Mickleboro: If you don't already have exposure to the banking sector, then I think Australia's oldest bank could be a great option for income investors in March. That's because I believe it has the strongest earnings outlook relative to the rest of the big four.

This is due to the combination of rising interest rates and the bank's bold cost-reduction plans. The latter sees Westpac aiming to reduce its cost base to $8.6 billion by FY 2024, compared to $13.3 billion in FY 2021.

Goldman Sachs is expecting Westpac to pay fully-franked dividends of $1.47 per share in FY 2023 and then $1.56 per share in FY 2024. Based on the Westpac share price of $21.64 as at Thursday's close, this will mean generous yields of 6.8% and 7.2%, respectively.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares in Westpac Banking Corp.

The post Top ASX dividend shares to buy in March 2023 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

And while it may not be possible to generate sizeable income from the share market immediately to combat the cost of living crisis (unless you are already sitting on a sizeable cash balance), there's nothing to stop you from making it a long term goal.

That way, you're ready for any cost of living shocks that could occur down the line.

Generate a $1,000 monthly passive income

If you want to generate a $1,000 monthly passive income, you're going to need to generate $12,000 of dividends each year.

There are plenty of ASX shares out there for investors to buy that are forecast to provide 6%+ yields. This includes banking giant Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and, as covered here earlier, Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS).

If you can build a diversified portfolio of ASX shares that provides a 6% yield, you will need a portfolio valued at $200,000 in order to generate dividends of $12,000 a year.

Investors that are lucky enough to be sitting on $200,000 can do this now and sit back and watch the passive income roll in.

But if you're starting from scratch, you'll need to come up with a plan.

Three steps to take

The first step is to start making consistent investments in the share market.

By investing $5,000 into the share market each year, your portfolio would grow to be worth $200,000 in 16 years if you earned an average 10% per annum total return.

This return is in line with historical share market averages. And while there's no guarantee that future returns will be in line with this, they could be better or worse, I would be disappointed if the market fell short of these levels.

The second step is identifying a high quality group of ASX shares to buy.

Investors might want to build a diverse portfolio by splitting their $5,000 investment across a number of ASX shares. This could include ETFs, which allow investors to buy large groups of shares in one fell swoop.

The third step is letting the power of compounding work its magic.

Legendary investor Charlie Munger, who is Warren Buffett's right-hand man at Berkshire Hathaway, famously quipped:

The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.

This is because compounding really starts to show its magic the longer you leave it, and by prematurely interrupting it, you could miss out on material upside. This includes selling shares or not contributing one year.

For example, 10 years of investing $5,000 and earning a 10% per annum return will turn into $88,000.

However, just six years later you will have grown your balance by a further $112,000 to $200,000 by continuing with the strategy. And keep going another four years and your balance will have ballooned another $115,000 and you'll have a portfolio valued at $315,000.

The post 3 steps to bring in $1,000 per month in passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two that are rated as buys and tipped to offer huge dividend yields are listed below. Here's what you need to know about these shares:

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

The first ASX dividend share that has been tipped to provide a big yield is the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

It is a property company that invests in high quality real estate assets that have long weighted average lease expiries (WALEs).

These properties certainly are in demand with end users, which are mainly corporate and government tenants. When the company released its half-year results, it reported a WALE of 11.8 years and a 99.9% occupancy rate.

Citi was pleased and has retained its buy rating with a $5.00 price target.

As for dividends, the broker is expecting dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT unit price of $4.54, this will mean yields of 6.15% and 6.4%, respectively.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Another ASX dividend share that analysts are expecting a big dividend yield from is Woodside Energy.

It is of course one of the world's leading energy producer's with a collection of world class assets across the globe.

A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts are expecting the energy giant to pay fully franked dividends of $3.86 per share in FY 2022 and then $2.72 per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Woodside share price of $34.37, this equates to sizeable 11.2% and 7.9% dividend yields for investors.

Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating and $41.00 price target on the energy producer's shares.

The post These ASX dividend shares offer huge yields: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While higher interest rates have hurt asset prices, they have also thrown up a number of interesting side effects such as much higher term deposit rates and lower share prices.

It's a good thing that savers are now able to achieve a stronger cash return. Some financial institution term deposits are now offering a rate of 4% or more on a one-year product.

However, while I like earning a stronger, safe return, I don't like how inaccessible the money is during the life of that term deposit, unless the saver gives up some, or all, of the interest.

For me, there are three other places I'm putting my money for passive income.

High-interest savings accounts

For starters, I'd rather put my 'safe money' in high-interest savings accounts (or HISAs). They are just as safe as a term deposit, they can offer extremely competitive interest rates (depending on the financial institution), and I can more easily access my money without losing a year's worth of interest.

Plus, it's easy to add more cash to the HISA and benefit from the extra interest.

I'm not expecting to become rich from a HISA, but it's now offering a good enough return to be worthwhile to hold some cash for passive income.

Fully-franked dividends

One of the best things about investing in Australian companies is that when they pay income tax, they generate franking credits.

These franking credits are then attached to dividends paid by companies to investors, a fine source of passive income.

Franking credits are refundable tax credits. For taxpayers in a high tax bracket, franking credits can reduce the tax owing on the dividend. For taxpayers in a lower (or no) tax bracket, franking credits can be refunded when the tax return is done.

In practical terms, as an example, it can turn a $70 cash dividend into a grossed-up payout of $100.

There are many ASX shares that pay fully franked dividends such as Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Real estate investment trusts

We don't need to buy a property ourselves to get exposure to the passive income from commercial property in Australia.

There are businesses on the ASX called real estate investment trusts (REITs) that own a portfolio of properties. The great thing about these investments is that they own a portfolio of properties, not just one property in one location.

REITs can be invested in various properties such as office buildings, shopping centres, warehouses, farms, pubs, service stations, and so on.

At the moment, the only REIT in my portfolio is Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF). But, there are plenty of other REITs out there such as Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG).

I like the distributions that they pay from their net rental income.

The post My 3 best forms of passive income for 2023 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It could be a tricky question to answer – every household's finances are different. Some people may have a big mortgage, others may own their own home debt-free. One household may have a fancy sports car, with an equally eye-catching car loan.

Each household may also have different lifestyle goals in retirement. How much we need to pay for the essentials is one thing, but funding an annual cruise would add a lot more to the cost.

Estimates for comfortable retirement

Research by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia shows that if a couple who own their own home wants to have a comfortable retirement, they will need an annual income of $67,000. A single person would need an annual income of over $47,000.

That spending includes a reasonable allowance for leisure, holidays, health services, and so on.

But for an individual, or household, who doesn't own their own home, the rent or mortgage could mean an extra $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 — or even more — is needed in additional investment income from ASX dividend shares.

How much do we need invested in ASX dividend shares

Once the investor has roughly figured out how much they're going to spend per year in retirement, then we can figure out the investment income needs. Certainly, a financial planner would be very helpful here for working out what the specific goals and objectives are.

But, in simple terms, it's a combination of the dividend yield and the size of the portfolio.

A $1 million portfolio could have a 2% dividend yield and pay $20,000 per year in dividends.

A $300,000 portfolio might have a dividend yield of 10% and pay $30,000 per year in dividends.

Of course, in general terms, the higher the dividend yield, the riskier it might be and the higher chance there could be a dividend cut in the short-to-medium term.

For quality ASX dividend shares, I prefer to look at names that have dividend yields of between 3% to 9% and have a record of growing dividends over time.

If we use the mid-point of the range I just said – 6% – and target $67,000 of annual dividend income, then it suggests the portfolio would need to be over $1.1 million in size.

The 6% figure is just an average though. As an example, there are some names that could pay a dividend yield of around 6% in 2023 such as Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW).

There are others with lower current yields, such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), but they have an objective of growing shareholder payouts.

Then there are ASX dividend shares that have very high dividend yields, like Shaver Shop Group Ltd (ASX: SSG) and Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS).

If an investor wants to choose businesses that are seen as defensive ASX shares but still reach that passive income goal, then they'd need to keep saving and growing their wealth until they get to the target dividend amount.

Foolish takeaway

ASX dividend shares could be the key to unlocking a life of pleasing dividends and easy cash flow. But, it could take a portfolio of around $1 million to achieve the targeted amount. Yet, of course, there are still investment risks, as well as volatility, to keep in mind.

The post How much do you need in ASX shares to give up work and live only off dividend income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Both of these dividend shares have been tipped to climb higher from current levels and pay big dividends.

Here's what you need to know about these high yield shares:

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

The first high yield ASX dividend share to consider is the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

As you might have guessed from its name, this Charter Hall operated property company has a focus on assets with long weighted average lease expiries (WALE). And when I say long, I mean long. At the last count, it had a WALE of approximately 12 years. Combined with its 99.9% occupancy rate, this bodes well for the future.

Citi is positive on the company due to its low risk income stream, long leases, high occupancy rate, and inflation-linked rental increases.

The broker expects this to underpin dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT share price of $4.61, this will mean yields of 6.1% and 6.3%, respectively.

Citi currently has a buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

If you're not averse to investing in the resources sector, then it could be worth considering this ASX 200 mining share. Particularly given how Goldman Sachs expects the mining giant to pay some very big dividends in the near term.

Goldman Sachs also likes Rio Tinto due to its "compelling valuation" and "return to production growth in 2023." In addition, it sees "potential for FCF/t improvement in the Pilbara over the medium term driven by Rhodes Ridges."

The broker is expecting this to underpin dividends per share of US$4.26 in FY 2023 and then US$5.60 in FY 2024. Based on current exchange rates and the latest Rio Tinto share price of $124.85, this will mean yields of 5% and 6.5%, respectively.

Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and lifting its price target to $132.00.

The post Passive income boost! 2 excellent high yield ASX dividend shares to buy: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Well, two ASX shares that tick these boxes are listed below. Here's why analysts rate them as buys:

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

The first ASX share for investors to consider for a retirement portfolio is the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

This is a property company that invests in high quality real estate assets that have long weighted average lease expiries (WALEs). These properties are leased mainly to corporate and government tenants and had a WALE of 11.8 years and a 99.9% occupancy rate when it reported its half year results this month.

That result went down well with analysts at Citi. In response, the broker has retained its buy rating with a $5.00 price target. It commented:

We re-iterate our Buy rating on CLW, with rising inflation providing a tailwind to revenue, a 6.1% FY23 dividend yield, and a- 25% discount to NTA (book value), despite c. 50% of income linked to inflation (meaning some protection to book values).

Citi expects this to underpin dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT unit price of $4.59, this will mean yields of 6.1% and 6.3%, respectively.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Another ASX share for investors to consider for a retirement portfolio is Transurban.

It is a leading toll road operator with a portfolio of important roads in Australia and North America, as well as a significant project pipeline. The latter could be very supportive its growth in the future.

It also recently released its first half results and revealed that its roads are booming again after a difficult time during the pandemic. The company commented:

Record traffic volumes with Average Daily Traffic (ADT) exceeding 2.5 million trips for the first time in November 2022. Traffic volumes were supported by record traffic in Sydney and Brisbane, freight traffic and weekend travel

Macquarie was pleased with what it saw and retained its outperform rating with an improved price target of $14.51.

In addition, the broker is now forecasting dividends per share of 57 cents in FY 2023 and then 61 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Transurban share price of $13.93, this will mean yields of 4.1% and 4.4%, respectively.

The post 2 excellent ASX shares to buy for a retirement portfolio: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX 200 real estate investment trusts (REITs) are enjoying a resurgence in 2023, and today there are two heading northwards after reporting their FY23 half-year earnings.

At the time of writing, these two ASX 200 REITs are among the top five performers of the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ), which is down 0.45% for the day so far.

Let's take a look at what these two companies reported today.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

The Charter Hall Long WALE REIT share price is up 1.5% to $4.69 at the time of writing. It opened at $4.64 — up 0.4% on yesterday's close — and reached an intraday high of $4.73, up 2.4%, in earlier trading.

This ASX 200 REIT invests primarily in offices, retail and industrial property, and social infrastructure.

WALE stands for weighted average lease expiry. Long WALE is the key appeal of this particular ASX 200 REIT. It means a more secure income, with leases typically indexed to inflation on a floating or fixed rate.

The Charter Hall Long WALE REIT currently has an average WALE of 11.8 years. Half its rental income is linked to inflation, with average increases of 7.2% on floating-rate leases and 3.1% on fixed-rate leases.

The highlights of this ASX 200 REIT's half-year results covering the six months to 31 December are:

• Operating earnings of $101.2 million, or 14 cents per share
• Distributions of 14 cents per share
• Net tangible assets (NTA) of $6.23 per share, up 1% from $6.17 at 30 June 2022
• $65 million net property valuation uplift, representing 0.9% over prior book values
• Balance sheet gearing of 30.2%, within the target range of 25% to 35%.

Avi Anger, Charter Hall Long WALE REIT Fund Manager commented:

During 1H FY23, CLW has demonstrated the resilience of its portfolio.

… CLW has been well placed to benefit from a higher inflationary environment and manage the impact of higher interest rates.

CLW's portfolio valuation increased as a result of the Metcash lease extension and our inflation-linked leases which drove rental growth and offset cap rate expansion across the portfolio.

Arena REIT No 1 (ASX: ARF)

The Arena REIT share price is up 0.8% to $3.74 at the time of writing. It opened this morning at $3.66 — down 1.35% on yesterday's close — and reached an intraday high of $3.755, up 1.2%, earlier today.

Arena REIT invests primarily in properties leased to tenants in childcare, healthcare, education, and government.

The highlights of this ASX 200 REIT's half-year results covering the six months to 31 December are:

• Net operating profit (distributable income) of $29.9 million, up 8.6% on the prior corresponding period (pcp)
• Statutory net profit of $47.6 million, down 74% on pcp
• Total assets of $1.58 billion, up 4% on 30 June 2022
• Net asset value (NAV) per security of $3.42, up 1% on 30 June 2022
• Earnings per security (EPS) of 8.59 cents, up 7.8% on pcp
• Distributions per security of 8.4 cents, up 6.3% on pcp
• Reaffirm FY23 full-year distribution guidance of 16.81 cents, up 5% on pcp.

This ASX 200 REIT has a WALE of 19.5 years. It reported a portfolio valuation uplift of $18 million, up 1.3% compared to FY22, and like-for-like rents increased by 6.45% on average.

Arena's managing director Mr Rob de Vos said:

Arena's investment proposition and partnership approach are integral to building better communities, together. This approach drives sustainable and commercial outcomes and underpins Arena's value proposition which provides inflation protected, long term income predictability with earnings growth prospects over the medium to long term.

Investors buying the dip on ASX 200 REITs in 2023

ASX 200 REITs went down fast in the 2022 sell-off, with the A-REIT Index diving 24%.

Today, investors appear to be buying the dip on ASX 200 REITs. Property shares are the second best-performing market sector so far in 2023.

The A-REIT Index is up 8.7% year to date. The leading sector is retail with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) up 10.6%.

The post 2 ASX 200 REITs on the rise following earnings updates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Both have recently been named as buys by analysts and tipped to provide very attractive yields. Here's what you need to know about them:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

This footwear and youth apparel retailer could be an ASX passive income share to buy.

Thanks to its strong market position, popular retail brands, and exposure to younger consumers, Accent has been tipped to grow strongly in the coming years.

This is expected to lead to the retailer rewarding its shareholders with a growing stream of dividends.

For example, according to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts are expecting the company to increase its dividend to a fully franked 12.2 cents per share in FY 2023. Based on the current Accent share price of $2.24, this will mean a yield of 5.4%.

Goldman has a buy rating and $2.75 price target on Accent's shares.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

Another ASX income share that could be a top option for investors is the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

It is a property company that is focused on high quality real estate assets that are leased to corporate and government tenants on long term leases.

Citi is a fan of the company due to its low risk income stream, ultra-long leases, sky-high occupancy rate, and inflation-linked rental increases.

The broker believes this will underpin the payment of dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT share price of $4.68, this will mean yields of 6% and 6.2%, respectively.

Citi currently has a buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

The post Buy these ASX passive income shares with 5%+ yields today: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investor confidence seems to have come soaring back. Back in August 2021, the ASX 200 Index reached a peak of just over 7,630 points.

For investors who haven't noticed, the ASX 200 reached 7,588 points earlier this month, which is less than 1% lower than its all-time high.

The ASX 200 is dominated by a few ASX shares from two sectors – ASX bank shares and ASX mining shares.

When BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) do well, then it bodes well for the ASX 200 as a whole.

What's driving the ASX share market higher?

The major banks and ASX iron ore shares have gone through a good recovery. Banks have risen amid the prospect of generating higher profits because of elevated interest rates with banks passing on the interest rate hikes quickly.

Share prices tend to follow earnings (and earnings projections).

Investors are also getting excited by how much iron ore profit BHP, Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) could make in the coming months.

More profit could also mean that good dividends are headed to shareholder bank accounts.

Commsec numbers suggest that CBA, NAB, Westpac, and ANZ are all going to pay a higher dividend per share than last year.

Collectively, investors have sent the share prices higher of names that were thought of as being impacted by higher interest rates. These include companies such as JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), CSR Limited (ASX: CSR), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW).

Is it too late to buy?

The ASX 200 has essentially wiped out the decline seen in 2022.

Certainly, over the long-term, the ASX has historically returned an average of around 9% to 10% per annum. I don't know for certain — nor does anybody else know — what's going to happen next in the next few months or years.

Higher interest rates and inflation have made things volatile. I think there's going to be more volatility throughout 2023. The market often acts with exuberance and, occasionally, becomes bearish.

I think the ASX 200 will be able to keep rising over the coming years if earnings growth is achieved. This could enable investors to sell at a higher price if they choose, or they may simply keep holding and benefiting from compounding.

For investors who invest in the whole share market with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), I think a regular investment plan will still be very effective. For investors who focus on individual ASX shares, I believe there will always be opportunities.

For now, I still think that smaller ASX shares that have been hit hard could be the best places to find mispriced ideas.

The post ASX 200: Buy high and sell higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We've seen huge volatility for names like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO).

But, if I'm relying on dividend income to fund my lifestyle, I want to find businesses that can provide solid payouts whether the Australian economy or China is firing on all cylinders or not.

With that in mind, these are the ASX 200 shares that I'd love to buy because of the long-term growth potential.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers shares have done well in 2023 to date. They are up more than 10%. Over the past year, the share price is only down by 6%.

This ASX 200 share has a number of leading businesses within its portfolio including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks and Priceline.

I think the last five or six years (including FY19) have shown that there is usually enough demand for Wesfarmers' retail businesses to generate decent profit and keep paying dividends.

In my opinion, the business has a very promising future and I like how it's investing in areas with good tailwinds like healthcare and lithium.

At the current Wesfarmers share price, Commsec numbers suggest that Wesfarmers is going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.3% in FY23, and 5.75% by FY25.

I like that Wesfarmers is regularly updating its business portfolio and investing for more growth.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

I think this ASX 200 share is another contender that could provide stability during this uncertain time.

This real estate investment trust (REIT) owns a variety of different buildings such as industrial buildings, important retail locations, agri-logistics and so on.

What links all those different properties together is that they're all leased on long rental contracts. That gives the REIT a long weighted average lease expiry (WALE) – it was 12 years at the latest update, at the annual general meeting (AGM).

It owns around 550 properties, most of which are on the eastern seaboard.

Management describes 99% of its tenants as blue chip, such as Australian government entities, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), BP and Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV).

Around half of its leases are linked to CPI, with a 6.3% weighted average forecast increase in FY23. The other half of leases have a fixed increase, with an average fixed increase of 3.1%.

It's expecting to pay a distribution of 28 cents per security in FY23, which would be a yield of 5.9%. In FY24 it could pay a distribution of 29 cents according to Commsec, which would be a yield of 6.1%.

The post These 2 ASX 200 shares yield 5% and 6% and I can't wait to buy them appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two that have been tipped as buys are listed below. Here's what analysts are saying about them:

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

The first ASX dividend share that could be a buy for a passive income boost is the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

The Charter Hall Long Wale REIT is a property company with a focus on high quality real estate assets that are leased to corporate and government tenants on long term leases.

Analysts at Citi are positive on the company and have a buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

Citi likes the REIT due to its "low risk income stream with c. 12 year WALE and 99.9% occupancy." The broker also highlights the company's significant discount to its net tangible assets.

Another positive is that Citi is expecting the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT to provide investors with some very big dividend yields in the near term.

Citi is forecasting dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT share price of $4.55, this will mean yields of 6.15% and 6.4%, respectively.

Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Another ASX dividend share that could be a top option for income investors is Telstra.

The team at Morgans is positive on the telco giant and believes its shares are trading at an attractive level given its materially improved outlook and potential value-unlocking divestments.

In respect to the latter, the broker believes "TLS's high quality long life assets like InfraCo are worth substantially more" than the market is currently valuing them.

Its analysts appear to believe that this won't be the case for long and expect Telstra's recent restructure to help unlock their value. As a result, the broker has put an add rating and $4.60 price target on its shares.

In respect to dividends, Morgans is expecting Telstra to continue to pay fully franked 16.5 cents per share dividends in FY 2023 and FY 2024. Based on the current Telstra share price of $4.09, this equates to yields of 4%.

The post Generate passive income with these quality ASX 200 dividend shares: brokers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Australian home values are falling at their fastest rate since the global financial crisis, so will ASX property shares go down with them?

According to CoreLogic data, home prices fell 5.3% in 2022. Back in 2008, they dropped 6.4%. (These numbers combine all types of residential properties — houses, townhouses, and apartments).

The price declines in 2022 were greatest in Sydney (down 12.1%) and Melbourne (down 8.1%).

But what happened to ASX property shares?

If home values drop, will ASX property shares fall too?

Let's take a look at what happened to ASX property shares or real estate investment trust (REITs) in 2022.

Real estate is one of the 11 sectors of the ASX. Over 2022, the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) fell 24%. This compares to a 5.5% drop in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

As seen here, individual results among the REITs varied substantially.

This is the top 10 ASX property shares by market capitalisation:

Why did ASX property shares fall in 2022?

The important thing for investors to note is that the bulk of REITs are either not associated with the residential housing market, or have only limited exposure.

Most of them hold portfolios comprising retail property, offices, and industrial property such as warehouses and shopping centres. There are exceptions, of course, like apartment developer Mirvac Group.

However, in a climate of rising interest rates, ASX REITs with substantial debt or leveraging will be affected. Why this occurs is obvious — interest costs are rising, while property values are falling.

The REIT companies that build property have also been subject to the rising costs of inputs like timber due to inflation and ongoing global supply chain disruptions.

ASX property shares can also be affected by falling land values in a market downturn. This reduces the value of the assets on their books.

But remember, most of these REITs are not holding property with the aim to sell it and distribute capital gains to shareholders. REITs are traditionally much more of a yield play than a growth play.

And therein lies an opportunity with REIT shares for investors today.

REITs are reliable dividend payers

ASX property shares tend to involve commercial property, and average tenancies are much longer term than residential leases. Traditionally, rental returns are steadier, hence distributions are relatively stable.

REIT yields are presently higher because share prices fell so much in 2022.

One of the highest dividend payers among ASX property shares is the Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF). Its share price dropped 35% last year and it is $1.60 today. That gives it a trailing dividend yield of 9.5%.

There are also ASX property shares that aim to deliver more share price growth than yield. Goodman Group is a great example.

Over the past five years, the Goodman share price has risen by 150%. That includes the 25% decline in 2022. So, that's an average annual share price gain of 30% per year. A residential property could never match that. Goodman is forecasting an 11% growth in earnings per share (EPS) for FY23.

Should I buy property or shares?

Whether ASX shares or property is a better investment is an age-old debate among investors that will rage on forever. Ideally, a bit of both is the way to go because it provides investment diversification.

But if you had to choose one, ASX shares might be more appealing for several reasons.

The scale of initial investment is probably the biggest drawcard of shares. ASX shares investing allows you to start with lower funds, so you can use savings instead of borrowings to get started. They're certainly less hassle, and there are no holding costs (outside of the interest on any margin loan you get to invest).

But the capital gain you'll get from ASX property shares is likely to be smaller. Over the past five years, the A-REIT index has risen by only 7%.

So, investors who choose shares over bricks-and-mortar property might pick a few ASX growth shares for capital gains and some ASX dividend shares (perhaps including property shares) for reliable income.

The post House prices are tanking. Will ASX property shares go down with them? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let me show you what I mean.

If a company has a dividend yield of 5%, but then its share price drops by 10%, the yield becomes 5.5%. If the share price falls 20% then the yield becomes 6%.

What we've seen over the past year is inflation and interest rates pummelling various asset classes. Some areas of the share market haven't escaped that pain.

But, large share market declines don't happen very often, so I'd say this is a rare opportunity for investors to grab some businesses with much higher yields than they normally offer.

Here are some of the areas where I'm seeing ASX income stock opportunities.

ASX retail shares

In theory, higher interest rates are meant to push down the value of most assets.

But, many retailers have been particularly hit with the prospect of the economic situation hurting their sales and earnings.

However, while the short-term may be difficult, I think the valuation of some retailers means the yields could be very high, such as Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH), Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1), Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) and Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK).

Quality property stocks

It's understandable that some ASX property shares have been hit hard as interest rates jumped higher.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are suffering from the double whammy of pressure on property valuations and debt being more expensive.

But, the higher rate of inflation is also boosting their rental income, which is supportive for valuations and distributions to investors.

However, the higher interest rates could cause pain to riskier and highly leveraged players in the property space. So, I'd be careful about which names to choose.

If I had to pick a few names, it would largely be due to their quality tenants and the length of the leases on the contracts. They would be: Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) and Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW). Brickworks has an impressive asset base, it doesn't rely on its building products earnings to fund the dividend.

Fund managers

With the big hit to various asset classes over the last twelve or so months, funds under management (FUM) have taken a significant hit.

However, I think that once the interest rates stop rising, investor confidence could start returning. That could lead to generally-rising asset prices and a return of good FUM inflows as well. That could make fund managers good ASX income stocks at this level.

Active fund managers do face the headwind of competition from low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs). But, the good performing ones could do well, particularly from the lower valuations we're seeing.

With pretty high dividend payout ratios, I think some fund managers could pay very good dividend income in the next few years, including Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI), GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) and Pacific Current Group Ltd (ASX: PAC).

The post ASX income stocks: A once-in-a-decade chance to get rich? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's why they are bullish on them:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

This footwear and youth apparel retailer could be a dividend share to buy.

This is due to the company's strong market position and its exposure to younger consumers. The latter is expected to be well-placed to keep spending in the current environment due to a rise in the minimum wage and less exposure to rising interest rates.

Bell Potter expects this to be the case and has a buy rating and $2.10 price target on the company's shares. It said:

AX1 remains one of our top picks in the Retail sector as we remain constructive on the name considering its exposure to a younger customer demographic in a tougher consumer spending environment, its longer term growth trajectory (12% EBIT CAGR, FY21-25e) and attractive valuation (11x BPe FY24e P/E).

As for dividends, Bell Potter is expecting fully franked dividends of 10 cents per share in FY 2023 and 12.5 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Accent share price of $1.94, this will mean yields of 5.15% and 6.45%, respectively.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

Another ASX dividend share that has been named as a buy is Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

It is a property company focused on high quality real estate assets that are leased to corporate and government tenants on long term leases.

Analysts at Citi are positive on the company and have a buy rating and $4.70 price target on its shares. This is due to its "low risk income stream with c. 12 year WALE and 99.9% occupancy." Citi also highlights the sharp discount to net tangible assets (NTA) that its shares trade on. The broker said:

While there is uncertainty around the future movement in asset values and impact on CLW, we believe that current pricing is reflecting a significant margin of safety given the > 30% discount to NTA, so we remain favourable on CLW.

As for dividends, Citi is forecasting dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT share price of $4.54, this will mean yields of 6.15% and 6.4%, respectively.

The post Buy these ASX passive income shares now: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you are, then the two listed below could be top options according to experts. Here's what they are saying about them:

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

The first ASX dividend share to consider for a retirement portfolio is the Charter Hall Long Wale REIT.

As you might have guessed from its name, this property company invests in high quality real estate assets that have long weighted average lease expiries (WALEs). These properties are leased mainly to corporate and government tenants and had a WALE of 12 years at the last count.

Citi is positive on the company and has a buy rating and $4.70 price target on its shares.

Citi likes the Charter Hall Long WALE REIT due to its attractive valuation, big yield, and low risk income stream. It explained

The inorganic growth story remains challenged but at current price, we see relative value given the -36% discount to NTA, >7% yield (much higher than triple net peers), c. 50% of the rents indexed to CPI and a low risk income stream with c. 12 year WALE and 99.9% occupancy.

Citi expects this to underpin dividends per share of 28 cents in FY 2023 and 29 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Charter Hall Long Wale REIT unit price of $4.43, this will mean yields of 6.3% and 6.5%, respectively.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

Another ASX dividend share that could be a top option for retirement portfolio is insurance giant Suncorp.

Morgans currently has an add rating and $13.98 price target on its shares.

The broker believes that Suncorp's shares are trading at an attractive level. Particularly given underlying business trends and its efficiency program. It said:

While weather remains volatile, we think SUN's underlying business trends continue to broadly track in the right direction. SUN will also reap the full benefits of its efficiency program in FY23 and we see SUN's current valuation as undemanding, e.g. FY23 PE multiple of 13x and a 6% dividend yield.

As for dividends, Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 77.5 cents in FY 2023 and 80 cents in FY 2024. Based on the current Suncorp share price of $12.04, this will mean yields of 6.4% and 6.6%, respectively.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares to buy for a retirement portfolio – experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX share market is a diverse mix of businesses, with a great number of them able to produce good profit to pay dividends. ASX dividend shares can help make enough retirement income to replace job earnings.

An important part of being able to swap a job for retirement income is building up enough wealth to generate good investment income.

Depending how much of their profit they pay out each year, some ASX dividend shares can provide impressive dividend yields.

While term deposits offer guaranteed returns, they don't produce organic growth unless the interest is reinvested. The current interest rate rises are a great boost, though each is a one-off boost.

Why ASX dividend shares can deliver

Businesses can pay a dividend from some of the profit and reinvest the rest for more growth in the future.

I have written some articles about some names that have a long dividend record, though they don't have as high a yield as the ones I'm about to mention.

Dividend reliability is one factor to consider. However, the dividend yield can make a big difference. If someone had a $1.5 million portfolio with a 4% dividend yield, they'd receive $60,000 in annual dividend income. A $1.5 million portfolio with a 5% yield can make $75,000 of annual dividend income.

So, with that in mind, let's look at some quality ASX dividend shares with big yields.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

This business is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns a diversified portfolio of properties across a number of areas including industrial and logistics, retail, agri-logistics, long-lease retail, service stations, office and so on.

Its portfolio's weighted average lease expiry (WALE) is around 12 years, providing "long-term income security". Almost all (99%) of its tenants are blue chip, such as Australian government entities, and it has rental growth built in, with around half of leases linked to inflation.

It's expecting to pay an annual distribution of 28 cents per unit in FY23, resulting in a forward yield of 6.2%.

Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV)

Premier Investments is a leading retailer business, which owns various apparel stores such as Just Jeans, Jay Jays and Dotti. It also owns Smiggle, a globally-growing school accessories business that sells items with branded images from, for example, Marvel or Minecraft. Online sales are proving to be particularly profitable for the company.

The ASX dividend share also has sizeable stakes in Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) and Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR).

Premier Investments has a solid dividend record and is expected, according to CommSec numbers, to pay an annual dividend of $1.01. This would mean a forward grossed-up dividend yield of 5.9%.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles is one of the leading supermarket businesses in Australia. Not only does it operate the national Coles Supermarket network of stores, but it also generates earnings from Coles Express and its liquor segment. Some of the liquor store brands within its portfolio are: First Choice Liquor, Liquorland and Vintage Cellars.

Since it listed a few years ago, it has slowly but steadily grown its dividend to investors. It is investing in technology and automated warehouses to make the business more efficient and profitable. According to CommSec, it could pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.5%.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

This ASX dividend share owns a portfolio of farms. It doesn't operate them, instead it leases them out to blue chip tenants on long-term leases. The farm types it owns include cattle, almonds, macadamias, vineyards, sugar and cotton.

Rural Funds aims to grow its distribution by 4% per annum, which compounds at a solid rate over time.

It's expecting to dish out payments worth 12.2 cents per unit in FY23, which equates to a distribution yield of around 5%.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is one of the leading ASX dividend shares in my view. It owns category-leading retailers like Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks.

It also has a number of lesser-known, interesting segments, such as WesCEF (chemicals, energy and fertilisers), that are becoming a growing piece of the pie and could drive profit in future years.

One of the key goals of Wesfarmers is to deliver shareholder returns. CommSec numbers suggest that it's going to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.7%.

The post How to swap your job for $75,000 in retirement income using ASX dividend shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) tumbled into the weekend on the back of a dire session on Wall Street. The index closed 0.78% lower at 7,148.7 points today. That marks a 0.89% week-on-week fall.

Fears of a recession following the recent rate hike from the US Federal Reserve appeared to drive New York indices lower overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell 2.2%, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) dropped 2.5%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) plunged 3.2%.

With that in mind, I doubt it's a surprise to anyone that Aussie tech stocks were among those suffering the most today. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) plummeted 2%. The Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price led the sector's fall with a 6.2% tumble.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) posted the biggest gain, rising 0.3% despite falling oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price fell 1.8% to US$81.21 a barrel and the US Nymex crude oil price dropped 1.5% to US$76.11 a barrel.

All in all, two of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed in the green today. But which stock outperformed all others to end the week on the highest high? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ).

It gained 4% on news the company has found a buyer for its East Coast Rail business. The competition watchdog declared the business' sale a condition of Aurizon's previous acquisition of One Rail Australia.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.