Australian retirees, or those close to it, who want ongoing passive income should look no further than these 5 great dividend-paying shares.
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APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA)
APA's income-generating potential makes it a strong contender for a retirement portfolio. The stock is able to give reliable and consistent dividend growth, defensive earnings, and high yield, which makes it a fantastic option for Aussies looking for passive income in their retirement years. It also has a long track record of increasing its dividend payouts annually for over 20 years.
Analysts at Macquarie are forecasting some big yields for investors in the near term. The broker recently said it expects dividends of 58 cents per share in FY26 and then 59 cents per share in FY27. Based on its current share price, this would mean dividend yields of 6.3% and 6.4%, respectively.
Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)
Telstra is another dividend-paying share with a reputation of handing out large fully franked income payments to its shareholders. It's known for being one of the most reliable on the index too, which is great for income-focused retirees. Telstra has paid out a steadily increasing yield for several years, including during the COVID pandemic period.
Commsec analysts have forecast that Telstra will pay an annual dividend per share of around 20 cents in FY26. That translates to a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.6%, including franking credits.
Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)
Wesfarmers isn't dependent on one product or industry. It owns and operates a range of major Australian businesses, including Bunnings, Kmart, Priceline and Officeworks. This means retiree investors can benefit from stable dividend growth without high risk because if one market sinks, the stock is supported by its diversification in other sectors.
Wesfarmers is also well-known for paying consistent, fully franked dividends, which is valuable for retirees.
UBS has forecast the dividend per Wesfarmers share could rise to $2.08 in FY26. This could rise as high as $3.14 in FY30, the broker said, translating to a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.5%, including franking credits.
Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)
Soul Patts has previously been described as ASX dividend royalty. It has the longest streak of annual dividend increases on the index and has increased its dividend payout for its shareholders every year since 1998.
This company has a diversified underlying investment portfolio across multiple sectors, including resources, telecommunications, financial services, and many more. This means the dividend share is able to generate cash flow from a variety of sources.
Again, its defensive qualities and consistent dividend growth makes it a fantastic option for income-seeking investors.
There's no forecast for what Soul Patts dividends are expected to climb to in FY26, but the company expects growth to continue going forward. In FY25 the company paid a total $1.03 per share, 100% fully franked.
BHP Group (ASX: BHP)
The mining giant is another strong contender for a retirement portfolio. It's one of the largest and most-established companies on the ASX with a strong balance sheet and low debt, even during volatile markets.
In FY25, BHP's dividend payouts were lower than what investors received the previous year, thanks to shifts in commodity prices throughout the 12-month period. But it continues to be a heavyweight for passive income.
UBS has forecast BHP will pay its shareholders US$1.09 per share in FY26, with a potential dividend yield of 5.7% including franking credits.
