Forget term deposits! I'd buy these two ASX 200 shares instead

These businesses offer defensive earnings, a good yield and growing payout.

| More on:
Young happy people on a farm raise bottles of orange juice in a big cheers to celebrate a dividends or financial win.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Term deposits don't offer the growth that I want over the long-term. S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares can provide investors with resilient passive income and growth of the payments.

It's true that term deposits will protect capital, but they don't grow the capital value either.

I think it could be a better move for the long-term to own growing businesses that are likely to provide reliable passive income as the years go by. Let's look at two of my ideas.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

I think real estate investment trusts (REITs) are a good industry to look for opportunities because of how they have rental contracts (usually multi-year contracts), and the capital value of the buildings usually doesn't change much year to year.

This ASX 200 share is particularly attractive because it is exposed to a number of tailwinds that are driving demand for industrial space. Those drivers include increasing e-commerce adoption, the growth of fresh food and pharmaceuticals, data centres, the onshoring of supply chains, a limited supply of new warehouses, and the growth of Australia's population.

The business has guided that it will grow its funds from operations (FFO) – the net rental profit – by up to 6% to between 18.2 to 18.5 cents per unit. The business is expecting to increase its distribution by 3% to 16.8 cents per unit, translating into a forecast distribution yield of 5%.

Grant Nichols, the ASX 200 share's fund manager, said:

CIP continues to achieve strong outcomes across its portfolio relating to leasing, capital transactions and value add initiatives. The ability to deliver these results is credited to CIP's portfolio being concentrated in Australia's urban infill markets where tenant demand is strongest, vacancy is low and supply is constrained.

These urban infill assets provides multiple future opportunities for alternative, higher-use developments such as data centres and residential schemes.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is an impressive energy infrastructure business that owns a vast gas pipeline network – it transports half of the country's gas usage. Other gas assets include gas processing, gas storage and gas-powered energy generation.

It also has wind farms, solar farms and electricity transmission assets.

The ASX 200 share is seeing long-term cash flow growth from an expanding portfolio of assets, which is helping pay for a distribution that has been hiked every year for the last two decades. That's an excellent record of reliability.

APA is benefiting from the fact that a vast majority of its revenue is inflation-linked, giving the business a useful tailwind for its top-line.

While a lot of its new assets in recent years have been pipelines, though it also announced a new power plant.

It's expecting to increase its payout to 58 cents per unit in FY26, translating into a forward distribution yield of 6.6%.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Dividend Investing

Happy miner with his hand in the air.
Resources Shares

Up 15%: Everything you need to know about the new South32 dividend

South32's latest dividend will make investors happy.

Read more »

Smiling woman with her head and arm on a desk holding $100 notes out, symbolising dividends.
Dividend Investing

These are my top ASX passive income picks

I’m focused on dependable cash flow and dividends that can grow over time.

Read more »

A woman wearing glasses and a black top smiles broadly as she stares at a money yarn full of coins representing the rising JB Hi-Fi share price and rising dividends over the past five years
Dividend Investing

Want to build up a second income? These 2 ASX shares are a buy

These businesses are providing investors with a rising payout.

Read more »

Beautiful young woman drinking fresh orange juice in kitchen.
Dividend Investing

Buy this $11 billion ASX share for healthy growth and income

Brokers think that earnings for this defensive healthcare stock could exceed 20%.

Read more »

Man holding Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.
Dividend Investing

This ASX dividend stock is projected to pay a 13% yield by 2029

Dividend yields on the ASX don’t get much bigger than this.

Read more »

Excited couple celebrating success while looking at smartphone.
ETFs

The ASX just got a new ETF that pays monthly dividends

This ETF will pay 12 dividends a year.

Read more »

An electrician looks at a power board using a torch in the dark
Dividend Investing

Income investors: You don't want to miss AGL's latest dividend

AGL's latest dividend is worth a look.

Read more »

Smiling man holding Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.
Bank Shares

Here's everything you need to know about the new CBA dividend

CBA's latest dividend is a doozy.

Read more »