Passive income investors scouring the share market for big dividend yields might come across one from Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares that might take their fancy.
Yesterday, this ASX 200 energy stock closed at $1.16 a share. At that price, Beach closed with a trailing dividend yield of 7.73%. If we include the full franking credits that Beach usually attaches to its dividends, investors have a grossed-up yield of over 11% staring them in the face.
It's understandable that more than a few income investors might find that a little tempting. Particularly so, considering the yields available on blue chip shares like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) are all currently under 4%.
So today, let's discuss whether passive income seekers should succumb to temptation and buy Beach Energy shares today for that big dividend.
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Are Beach shares a buy for big passive income?
2025 has indeed been a bonanza when it comes to Beach Energy payouts. Shareholders received a 3-cent per share interim dividend back in March. The final dividend, worth 6 cents per share, follows in September.
That 9 cents per share in total dividend income for 2025 gives us that 7.73% yield at Beach's last share price of $1.16.
However, as most dividend investors are aware, dividend yields always reflect the past, not the future. Just because Beach Energy paid out 9 cents per share in 2025 doesn't mean investors should expect that kind of income in 2026, or beyond.
No ASX dividend share offers absolute income guarantees. But energy shares are more prone to passive income ebbs and flows than most other stocks on our market. That's because the company's profits, and thus ability to fund dividends, are highly dependent on something completely outside their control: global energy prices.
If the global oil price falls, for example, Beach's profits take an immediate hit.
This is evident when we examine the level of passive income this stock has paid in prior years. 2025 was actually something of an outlier for Beach shareholders. Far from enjoying 9 cents per share annually, Beach's owners collected 4 cents per share over 2024 and 2023. Between 2017 and 2022, the annual total came to just 2 cents per share.
If Beach reverted to paying out 4 cents per share over 2026, the shares would have a forward yield of 3.45% today. As it happens, many analysts are predicting that Beach will indeed be forced to slash its payouts next year. Whilst that is not a certainty, it does indicate that investors should not expect an automatic 7.76% passive income yield if they buy Beach shares today.
