3 ASX dividend shares to boost your passive income in 2026

Let's see which shares analysts are recommending to clients.

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Key points

  • Rural Funds Group offers investors a stake in diverse agricultural properties with inflation-linked leases, ensuring steady income and resilience against costs, making it a promising choice for those seeking robust dividend yields.
  • Transurban Group stands out with its stable, inflation-linked cash flows from extensive toll road operations, providing consistent dividend potential, especially as infrastructure remains vital in major cities.
  • Universal Store's strategy of brand diversity and a strong private-label range is well-supported by analysts, with its robust execution and resilience in retail offering attractive dividends for passive income investors.

If you're building a passive income portfolio, there are a number of ASX dividend shares worth keeping an eye on right now.

Several leading brokers have recently upgraded their outlooks on some high-quality income stocks, tipping them to offer attractive dividend yields over the next couple of years.

Here are three ASX dividend shares that analysts are calling buys today.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

One dividend stock that's caught the attention of brokers is Rural Funds Group. It is Australia's only listed agricultural real estate investment trust.

The company owns a broad mix of farmland assets including cattle, vineyards, orchards, and cropping properties, which it leases to established agricultural operators on long-term contracts.

These leases generally feature inflation-linked rent escalations, giving Rural Funds reliable income growth and solid protection against rising costs. And with global food demand trending higher and farmland remaining in limited supply, the company's underlying assets are well positioned to appreciate over time.

Bell Potter remains positive on its outlook, forecasting dividends of 11.7 cents per share in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $1.95, that implies dividend yields of around 6% for each year.

The broker retains a buy rating and $2.45 price target on the stock.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Analysts at Citi have highlighted Transurban Group as an attractive income option for dividend investors.

The toll road operator owns and manages major assets across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and North America, including Melbourne's CityLink and Sydney's Cross City Tunnel. Its infrastructure assets generate stable, inflation-linked cash flows, ideal for supporting consistent dividend growth.

Citi is forecasting dividends of 69.5 cents per share in FY 2026 and 73.7 cents per share in FY 2027. At the current share price of $15.18, that equates to potential dividend yields of 4.6% and 4.9%, respectively.

The broker has a buy rating and a $16.10 price target on Transurban shares.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Lastly, Universal Store has been singled out by Bell Potter as another attractive dividend opportunity.

The youth fashion retailer owns a trio of popular brands, Universal Store, Thrills, and Perfect Stranger, and has continued to perform well despite a tough retail environment.

Bell Potter believes the company's strong execution, growing private-label range (now around 55% of sales), and multi-brand strategy will support sustained earnings and margin expansion in the years ahead.

On the income front, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 37.3 cents per share in FY 2026 and 41.4 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $8.54, that represents dividend yields of 4.4% and 4.85%, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and a $10.50 price target on Universal Store shares.

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Universal Store. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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