Top 10 Shares to Invest in Australia for 2026: Best ASX Stocks to Buy Now

Owning a share means you've got a tiny part of the company it's linked to. If the company fares well, the value of your shares will rise and there's a chance that they might pay you a dividend. A dividend is the excess of profits made by the company paid out to shareholders as an investment reward.

With the advantages tied to shares, many Aussies want to know what the best shares are in 2026. If you're among this set, keep reading to find the 10 best shares to buy today in Australia. 

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increased its cash rate to 4.35% in May to mitigate the impacts of rising fuel prices and inflation. While this hike can negatively impact the shares market, many investors are still keying into AU shares for the following reasons:

Franking Credits

This is a secret weapon tied to Australia’s economy. Most ASX shares pay out fully franked dividends. So, investors can get franking credits that represent a part of the corporate tax already paid. With this tax relief structure in the mix, investors can enjoy more returns on their shares' investment.

World-Class Commodities 

Australia has vast amounts of solid minerals (gold, iron ore, and copper). Copper shattered records in 2026, with prices hitting $14,500 (A$20,343) back in January; gold is on a similar trajectory, trading at an estimated $4,400 (A$6,172). The positive trends on minerals saw BHP shares hit an all-time ASX high of A$63.58 on June 2nd, 2026. 

Resilient Economy

While the RBA has increased rates three times in a row, the Australian economy stands tall. Its GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.5% in the first three months of 2026. 

And if history repeats itself, Australia’s top 4 banks (CBA, NBA, ANZ, and Westpac) will benefit from these hikes and grow their Net Interest Margins (NIM). How? By passing these hikes quickly to mortgage borrowers while slowly introducing complete interest rates to savings accounts.

The ASX shares shortlisted in this article didn't just appear by chance. Every mention passed through a filter with these metrics:

#1 Strong Fundamentals: A share is only good if it's associated with a healthy business. We checked the earnings per share (EPS) value, revenue growth, and net profit margins. 

If a company isn't doing well (AKA not making money) or hasn't defined a path to change its fortunes, its shares won't go near our list.

#2 Market Capitalisation Over $100 Million: You might see small stocks and think they're an exciting investment option. But when you look behind the veil, you'd notice they've got smaller trading volumes and big risks.

With this in view, we only paid attention to stable entities with solid share size and liquidity.

#3 At Least 5 Years on the ASX: A company that has gone through rate hikes, losses, and the COVID-19 pandemic is one that can stand the test of time. We featured shares with a track record, not new ones on a bullish run that began months ago.

#4 Dividends and Franking Credits: Investors in Australia consider fully franked dividends as a channel to creating wealth. As such, we took a liking to companies with a history of regularly paying out and growing their dividends.

#5 Sector Diversification: The best shares to buy now aren't in one sector. Variants on our listing cover different industries. That way, you'll find a great fit irrespective of your investing goals.

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Thinking about the best Australian shares to buy in 2026? Your Investment portfolio should contain at least one of these 10 options:

#1 BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

• Sector: Mining

• Current Share Price: A$62.80

If the ASX was a soccer team, BHP would be its first captain. Just so you know, BHP Group Ltd ranks as the largest diversified mining company globally, with a market capitalisation of A$319.11 billion. 

It's 2026, and the company has been firing from all cylinders. As mentioned, its shares hit A$63.58 in June, its all-time high on the ASX. 

One major reason why BHP’s shares are valuable stems from copper. With the world going green, the copper demand for solar panels, electric cars, and battery production is on the rise. 

The company's on track to produce 1.9 to 2.0 million tonnes of copper in 2026. And with copper prices hovering around A$20,000, the profits they're bound to make are sky-high. What's better? Its shares have a fully franked dividend yield of around 3.5%.

#2 Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

• Sector: Banking

• Current Share Price: A$163.73

This CBA has a rocky start to 2026. On May 12th, share prices fell by 10.4% due to federal budget tax changes and personal loan arrears. Many investors are scared to invest in the CBA; however, financial experts opine that this is the best time to invest in CBA shares.

Why? The bank has solid fundamentals. Just last month, the company reported a Q3 cash profit of A$2.7 billion, representing a 4% year-over-year growth. Also, CBA’s dividends are fully franked; last time out, shareholders received A$2.35 per share.

#3 CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

• Sector: Healthcare 

• Current Share Price: A$92.59

The CSL was first listed on the ASX in 1994. At the time, its shares had an IPO price of A$2.30. They're now one of the world's biggest healthcare companies; they operate in 100+ countries and are a leader in creating life-saving medicines.

The value of CSL shares fell by over 41% in 2026. But just as we've seen with the CBA, the CSL has an opportunity to bounce back. For context, with most life-saving drugs needing plasma, the need for it is set to hit highs soon. CSL fills this gap, putting them in prime position to turn things around and give investors juicy dividends.

#4 Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

• Sector: Consumer

• Current Share Price: A$78.61

Have you been to Bunnings, Officeworks, or Kmart in recent times and made a purchase? If yes, then you've put some coins into Wesfarmers Ltd’s pockets, as all these companies trace back to this conglomerate.

Wesfarmers reported revenues hitting A$45.7 billion in 2025. This shows a 3.4% growth over revenue numbers in 2024. Beyond retail, the company is taking baby steps in the lithium market through the Covalent Lithium project . This scheme is estimated to be worth around $2.6 billion (A$3.6 billion).

#5 Macquarie Group (ASX: MQG)

• Sector: Asset management 

• Current Share Price: A$236.46

Macquarie isn't a regular bank. It's a global financial service that excels in managing assets around the world. For example, they can buy a tollgate, add some modern features to it, get fees from users, and return a part of the money to investors.

Its current share price hovers around A$236. It might seem like a lot, especially if you want to buy in. However, MQG shares deliver steady returns. And with rising interest rates in view, the company is on hand to earn more on invested capital.

#6 Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO)

• Sector: Mining

• Current Share Price: A$188.08

Although BHP is #1 in the mining sector, Rio Tinto comes in at a close second in terms of operations. As it stands, the company mines iron ore, copper, aluminium, and lithium. 

With these minerals being in high demand, Rio Tinto’s share prices have surged. A report states that the company's stock rose by 36.7% in 3 months. This growth has seen Rio Tinto’s shares valued at an estimated A$188.

Back in April 2026, Rio Tinto gave shareholders a fully franked 2025 final dividend worth A$3.67 for every share they owned.

#7 Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

• Sector: Real estate/digital infrastructure

• Current Share Price: A$31.22 

Ever asked yourself where data for LLMs, online banking systems, and streaming services are actually stored? If you guessed data centres, you're correct. 

Goodman Group is the company responsible for building and managing most of them. That said, they're also into logistics and e-commerce.

Their total portfolio is worth A$87.4 billion. With many companies investing billions into the creation and maintenance of data centres, the Goodman Group is expected to land most of these deals and get an otherworldly amount in profits.

While the GMG share price has pulled back a few times this year, the company's stock is still an appealing investment alternative, given the number of industries it’s active in.

#8 Telstra Group: (ASX: TLS)

• Sector: Telecommunications 

• Current Share Price: A$4.97

As its naming suggests, Telstra Group is involved in telecommunications in Australia. The firm posted a net profit of A$2.34 billion in 2025, showcasing a 31% year-on-year increase. This massive growth was possible thanks to huge mobile earnings and restructuring activities that took place in the previous year. 

Telstra Group's share on the ASX is worth around A$4.90. It's not the most flashy AU share on our listing. But if you're looking for an investment vehicle that's stable and has a solid growth potential, the TLS could be the right fit.

#9 National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB)

• Sector: Banking

• Current Share Price: A$37.01

The NAB is considered great because it lends decent to huge amounts to businesses and has regular accounts with zero fees. Its Q1 FY26 updates shows that the bank is on a solid run. They got $2.21 billion in unaudited profits and showed a 12% underlying profit growth. 

NAB shareholders enjoy fully franked benefits and offer a stable income source for investors seeking that Big Four stability and prestige. 

#10 Woolworths Group (ASX: WOW)

• Sector: Retail 

• Current Share Price: A$35.26

Last on our list of the 10 best shares to buy today in Australia are linked to the Woolworths Group. This entity has supermarkets in Australia and NZ. And in Australia alone, they've got customers in the millions.

The WOW stock is one of the most defensive on the ASX. This is because it remains stable in times of economic uncertainty, as people will find ways to get the basics. Woolworths Group gives out fully franked dividends twice a year (April and November). Back in April, they paid out A$0.45 per share to investors.

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When you buy a share, you own a little part of the company. You'll get dividends, franking credits, and can grow the amount you invested as far as the company does well. As such, most Aussies consider them to be a smart investment.

Contract for Difference, also known as CFDs, are a different ballgame, as you’re betting on whether the price of an asset will go up or down without actually owning it. 

CFD trading is for traders with a plan to get profits within a short period. On the other hand, investing in shares will suit anybody who wants to build long-term income.

Would you like to invest in any of the 10 Australian shares we've highlighted in this guide? You don't have to be a financial genius and can begin your investing adventure via online brokers such as Mitrade.

While you can buy shares outright on Mitrade, you can invest in shares via CFDs. This route lets you speculate on prices and get returns without owning any of the shares. 

To start CFD share trading on Mitrade, follow these steps:

• Create a Mitrade account without paying a dime. 

• Verify your account by submitting required documents.

• Add money to your account via a payment option you're familiar with.

• Diversify your portfolio.

Don't just choose companies with shares boasting the highest returns. Rather, track their performance and see how their stocks perform before making a trade.

Start Trading Shares in 3 Simple Steps

1

Open an Account

2

Fund Your Account

3

Trade Share CFDs

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