For dividend-focused investors, there's nothing better than a steady-as-she-goes business that pays out healthy amounts like clockwork.
I've run the ruler over a few companies on the ASX, and come up with three investment ideas which might fit the bill if a decent dividend yield is what you're after.
Poised for broad-based growth
The first of these is McMillan Shakespeare Ltd (ASX: MMS), which, according to the ASX, is paying a trailing dividend yield of 8.7%, fully franked.
The company's products include salary packaging, novated leasing, fleet management, and National Disability Insurance Scheme plans, with more than 500,000 customers on its books.
The company has been growing its earnings year on year for the past three years, while revenue for FY25 was up 3% to $541.6 million.
The company has a policy of paying out 70% to 100% of underlying net profit, and its guidance for the current financial year is for "customer growth across all segments''.
McMillan Shakespeare paid a 77-cent dividend in September, following a 71-cent payout in March.
Taking flight
Second cab off the rank is travel company Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO), which is paying a trailing dividend yield of 7.67% fully franked.
The company has paid a consistent 6 cents per share final dividend over the past three years, while in March it paid an outsized interim dividend of 8 cents per share.
Managing Director Andrew Burnes told the company's annual general meeting in October that the company increased its net profit by 4.1% to $33.2 million, despite an 8.7% decline in revenue to $192.8 million.
On the outlook, Mr Burnes said the company's balance sheet was strong, with cash of $79.4 million and no external bank debt.
He added the company was "well-positioned for sustainable growth and long-term resilience", while EBITDA was expected to grow from $60.6 million in FY25 to $64-$72 million this year.
Helloworld is also aiming to buy out fellow listed travel company Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL) with a non-binding bid of 90 cents per share currently in the market.
Road to riches
Our third decent dividend player is toll road operator Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX), which is paying a trailing, unfranked dividend yield of 8.24%.
In releasing its first-half results in August, the company said it was not only reaffirming its 40 cents per share dividend, but also said "Atlas Arteria is targeting future distributions of at least 40 cents per share, supported by growing free cash flow''.
Chief Executive Hugh Webby said while releasing the results that, "by staying disciplined on managing capital and costs efficiently and being relentless about performance, we're setting ourselves up to keep delivering long-term value for our securityholders''.
