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Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income?

The Motley Fool Australia Laura Stewart
1 min read Rewritten in plain language

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Overview

  • If you're looking to bank passive income from the mining space, two big names on the ASX often get a close look: Woodside Energy Group Ltd and Fortescue Ltd.
  • With roots going back to 1954, Woodside's business stretches across offshore platforms and international assets, strengthened by its recent high-profile merger with BHP's oil and gas portfolio.
  • Fortescue is one of the giants in iron ore production, sitting just behind BHP, Rio Tinto, and Vale globally.
  • The takeaway here: Fortescue offers the higher dividend yield for those hunting passive income, and sports a cheaper earnings multiple.
  • Year to date, Woodside shares are up a 44.04%.

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The article, shortened and in plain language

If you're looking to bank passive income from the mining space, two big names on the ASX often get a close look: Woodside Energy Group Ltd and Fortescue Ltd.

Woodside Energy is Australia's largest independent oil and gas company, and the largest operator of oil and gas production in the country. With roots going back to 1954, Woodside's business stretches across offshore platforms and international assets, strengthened by its recent high-profile merger with BHP's oil and gas portfolio. Listed since 1971, it now sits among the largest companies on the ASX.

Fortescue is one of the giants in iron ore production, sitting just behind BHP, Rio Tinto, and Vale globally. Since debuting on the ASX in 1987, it's grown into a $50.93 billion titan, underpinning a large chunk of global iron ore supply.

The takeaway here: Fortescue offers the higher dividend yield for those hunting passive income, and sports a cheaper earnings multiple.

All prices quoted are as of 16 September 2026. Woodside closed at $33.27, having climbed 2.84% that day, capping off a strong few weeks—with dips and overall upward price momentum. Year to date, Woodside shares are up a 44.04%.

Fortescue, meanwhile, finished at $16.54, but the bigger story is in the negatives: its year to date return is -21.40%.

Shortened to 1 minute of reading, this version reads 17.1 on the Niral Score.

You are reading our version, not theirs. This is The Motley Fool Australia's report shortened to its most important sentences, in plainer words, with verdicts and loaded words taken out. Plain description stays, and so do adjectives that carry a fact, such as "former" or "federal". The reporting, the facts and the quotations are theirs — quotations are never edited — and the indicators beside it measure this version. Hover or tap Adjectives to see every one left in the text.

How outlets headlined it

Each outlet's own headline. Struck through: the loaded words our version leaves out. Plainest first.

  • The Motley Fool Australia Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income? plain
  • The Motley Fool Australia Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today plain
  • The Motley Fool Australia 3 ASX 200 shares forecast to fly 30% to 40% higher plain
  • The Motley Fool Australia 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week plain
  • The Motley Fool Australia Which ASX dividend shares are buys for passive income? plain
  • The Motley Fool Australia 13 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week plain
  • The Motley Fool Australia 2 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork plain

How each outlet filed it

Outlet Niral ScoreAdjectivesSourcingSentimentHappiness
The Motley Fool Australiaas they published this story 28.9 45 0 0.8 51.1
The Motley Fool Australia 14.7 16 9 0.2 53.9
The Motley Fool Australia 18.2 21 11 0.1 52.3
The Motley Fool Australia 15 1 25 0.1 56
The Motley Fool Australia 18.9 21 0 0.3 57.7
The Motley Fool Australia 17.3 1 0 0 50
The Motley Fool Australia 19.7 18 0 0.7 57.2
Mundane Readneutralized from The Motley Fool Australia 14.4 16 9 0.2 53.9

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The same event elsewhere

6 other outlets filed this story. The scoreboard above is what they did differently.

The Motley Fool Australia Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today Niral 14.7 political 0 The Motley Fool Australia 3 ASX 200 shares forecast to fly 30% to 40% higher Niral 18.2 political 0 The Motley Fool Australia 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week Niral 15 political 0 The Motley Fool Australia Which ASX dividend shares are buys for passive income? Niral 18.9 political 0 The Motley Fool Australia 13 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week Niral 17.3 political 0 The Motley Fool Australia 2 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork Niral 19.7 political 0