Popular doesn't always mean good when it comes to returns and investing in ASX shares.
So, let's take a look at three very popular shares and see if they were naughty or nice to their shareholders this year.
Here's how they performed in 2025 compared to the market:
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)
Thanks partly to the booming copper price and the resilient iron ore price, BHP shares have comfortably outperformed the market in 2025.
Year to date, the Big Australian's shares have risen by a decent 14%. This compares favourably to 7% gain by the benchmark ASX 200 index during the same period.
In addition, the mining giant has rewarded shareholders with two dividend this year. A fully franked interim dividend of approximately 79.1 cents per share and a fully franked final dividend of approximately 91.9 cents per share.
This equates to a 4.2% dividend yield based on its starter price, which boosts the total annual return to 18%.
Verdict: Nice
Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)
Unfortunately for its shareholders, this investment bank's shares have underperformed the market this year by some distance. This has been driven by its softening operational performance, which has weighed on investor sentiment.
For example, the company recently released its half year results and reported a net profit of $1,655 million. While this was up 3% on the prior corresponding period, it was down a sizeable 21% on the second half of FY 2025. It was also short of consensus estimates for the six months.
In light of this, year to date, Macquarie shares are down by approximately 7%. And while it has paid two dividends to shareholders in 2025, those aren't enough for a positive total return this year.
Verdict: Naughty
Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)
Westpac shares have been a great investment this year. Since the start of the year, the big four bank's shares have risen approximately 20%.
But it gets better. As with the ASX others, two fully franked dividends have been paid to shareholders in 2025. Westpac paid 76 cents per share in June and 77 cents per share earlier this month.
These dividends equate to a yield on cost of 4.7%, which boosts the total return for the year to approximately 25%. This is significantly better than the performance of the ASX 200 index over the same period.
Verdict: Nice
