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Highlights
- Coles shares up nearly 14% in 2025
- Downer trading well above its 52-week low
- Dividend yields offer insights into share price trends
The start of 2025 has brought solid momentum for Coles Group (ASX:COL) and Downer EDI (ASX:DOW), two key players in the ASX200 index. Their share price movements and dividend trends are offering interesting signals, especially for those watching ASX dividend stocks.
Coles, a household name in Australia, has seen its share price rise by 13.8% since the beginning of the year. The company is a major retailer, operating supermarkets, liquor stores, and services like Coles Express and Flybuys. It was part of Wesfarmers before becoming independent in 2018. Today, Coles controls about 28% of the local grocery market and continues to offer steady income through dividends.
Despite being second to Woolworths in market share, Coles is often viewed as a reliable income-generating business. One simple metric to assess value is dividend yield – a snapshot of how much return is being paid out relative to share price. Currently, Coles shares yield about 3.16%, which is below its 5-year average of 3.76%. This lower yield can result from an increase in share price, rising dividends, or both. According to its latest annual report, Coles actually grew its dividend last year compared to its 3-year average, suggesting recent price gains have led to a tighter yield.
Meanwhile, Downer EDI has quietly rebounded, with its share price sitting roughly 27.9% above its 52-week low. This infrastructure services provider is behind many of Australia and New Zealand’s public transport systems and utility services, including Melbourne’s Yarra Trams and regional passenger trains.
Downer’s operations span three segments: Transport, Utilities, and Facilities. Transport alone contributes more than half of the company’s revenue. Although the company name might not be familiar to everyone, the infrastructure they support is essential to daily life across both nations.
As part of the ASX200, both Coles and Downer are often included in discussions around income and stability, especially in the context of ASX dividend stocks. Looking at dividend yields relative to historical averages offers a quick way to check in on valuation trends and price movements.
For those following the broader market or dividend-focused strategies, keeping tabs on changes in yield and price can offer useful clues about the underlying health and performance of well-known names like (COL) and (DOW).
