Special Dividends 2026: ASX Companies Poised for a Cash-Heavy Year

Australia may be heading into a year where special dividends return in force, with some of the country's biggest listed companies sitting on unusually strong balance sheets, full franking credit reserves and strategic catalysts such as M&A activity. With standard dividend yields still running below historical norms, investors are watching closely and for good reason.

Balance Sheets Are Loaded, and Boards Know It

Several fund managers now expect 2026 to be a strong year for capital returns, though not necessarily across the entire market. Solaris portfolio manager Charles Casey describes it. . .