Building a reliable income stream from the share market doesn't have to be complicated.
In fact, some of the best long-term results come from doing a few simple things well — like owning a basket of high-quality ASX dividend payers and letting them do their thing.
With interest rates expected to fall and savings account returns heading south, the appeal of regular, fully franked income from ASX dividend shares is growing by the day.
With that in mind, if you are looking to build a portfolio that delivers dependable dividends year after year, here are four picks that could form the backbone of a long-term income strategy. They are as follows:
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Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)
Footwear and activewear retailer Accent Group could be an ASX dividend share to buy.
It is the company behind well-known retail brands like Platypus, Hype DC, The Athlete's Foot, and Stylerunner. Accent's vertically integrated model, exclusive brand access, and expanding store network give it a advantage over the competition and could be reasons to buy according to analysts at Bell Potter.
Especially given its belief that some big dividend yields are coming. The broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 10.2 cents in FY 2025 and then 12.7 cents in FY 2026. Based on its current share price of $1.81, this would mean yields of 5.6% and 7%, respectively.
Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.60 price target on its shares.
Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)
A mainstay of Aussie income portfolios, Telstra continues to earn its reputation as a reliable dividend payer. It operates in a highly defensive industry — providing mobile, broadband, and infrastructure services — and has been steadily improving its operational efficiency and cash flow thanks to its T22 and T25 strategies.
Telstra recently paid a 9.5 cents per share interim dividend, and Goldman Sachs expects the same with its full year results in August, bringing its total dividends to 19 cents per share in FY 2025. An increase to 20 cents per share is expected by Goldman Sachs in FY 2026.
Based on its current share price of $4.43, this would mean dividend yields of 4.3% and 4.5%, respectively.
Goldman has a buy rating and $4.50 price target on its shares.
Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)
If you want resilience, it is hard to look past Coles. As one of Australia's largest supermarket chains, this ASX dividend share thrives in almost any economic environment — people always need to eat.
Coles pays a healthy, fully franked dividend, and with a stable business model and strong cash flows, it has all the hallmarks of a classic income stock. While it won't offer explosive growth, it's exactly the kind of anchor that can support a long-term dividend portfolio.
Macquarie thinks it would be a good option for income investors. It is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 67 cents in FY 2025 and then 74 cents in FY 2026. Based on its current share price of $21.27, this will mean dividend yields of 3.15% and 3.5%, respectively.
Macquarie has an outperform rating and $22.00 price target on its shares.
Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)
Finally, for income investors who don't want to handpick stocks — or who want to add an extra layer of diversification — the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF is an excellent way to tap into a basket of high-yielding Aussie shares.
This ASX ETF tracks the performance of a group of companies with higher-than-average forecast dividends, including the likes of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). It spreads risk across sectors and provides quarterly income distributions, making it a great buy and hold option for dividend investors.
At present, it trades with a trailing 5.1% dividend yield.
