Top 5 defensive ASX stocks to buy as markets rotate away from tech & miners

Following are the top 5 defensive ASX stocks to buy considering a shift from tech & miners, supported by sustainable growth and solid business fundamentals.

Wesfarmers Limited (ASX: WES) is one of the top defensive ASX stocks, which is currently trading at a market capitalisation of $87.55 billion with a current annual fully franked dividend yield of 3.39%.

WES had announced on 27 August 2026 its 2026 full-year results for the period ended June 2026. Revenue increased by 3.4% year on year to $47.3 billion. Earnings before interest and tax reached $4.5 billion and net profit stood at $2.9 billion.

Operating cash flows stood at $4.3 billion, and it has distributed a full-year ordinary dividend of 222 cents per share, and basic earnings per share stood at 253.4 cents per share.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) is one of the leading industrial companies listed on ASX with a market capitalisation of $43.88 billion and has a current unfranked dividend yield of 4.90%.

TCL had announced on 28 October 2026 that its I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project in Nashville, Tennessee, has reached commercial close with TDOT through the DriveTN Consortium. The present value of all payments to TDOT under the agreement amounts to US$21 billion

It includes US$7.7 billion of nominal construction-period payments between 2027 and 2033, and the remaining payment is expected to be received from 2036 till 2085. The agreement includes revenue sharing mechanisms under which TDOT will receive a share of excess project returns and toll revenues above specified thresholds.

 ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) is one of the top healthcare companies listed on ASX, which is currently trading at a market capitalisation of $47.05 billion.

RMD has announced on 2 November 2026 its quarterly report for the period ended September 2026. Net revenue rose to US$1.4 billion, and gross profit increased to US$870.6 million.

Net income grew to US$418.4 million, and basic earnings per share increased from US$2.38 in September 2025 to US$2.93 in September 2026.

Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) is one of the top healthcare ASX stocks, which is currently trading at a market capitalisation of $9.23 billion and has a current annual partly franked dividend yield of 2.44%.

COH had announced on 18 August 2026 its FY26 results for the period ended June 2026. Sales revenue rose by 2% year on year on a constant currency basis and up 6% in the second half. Cochlear implants increase by 5% year on year to 56,692.

It has reported a gross margin of 71% for FY26 and reported an underlying net profit of $322 million. Free cash flow increased by $141.1 million to $263.5 million for FY26.

National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) is one of the leading banks of Australia listed on ASX, which is currently trading at a market capitalisation of $127.53 billion and has a current annual fully franked dividend yield of 4.15%.

NAB had announced on 17 August 2026 its third quarter trading update for the period ended June 2026. Net operating income grew by 5% year on year to $5.5 billion with a net interest margin of 1.79%. Unaudited cash earnings rose 4% year on year to $1.83 billion, and unaudited statutory net profit reached $1.81 billion.

Group gross loans and acceptances reached $817 billion, and group customer deposits reached $685 billion. It has non-performing exposures/gross loans and acceptances of 1.50% and a group common equity tier 1 ratio of 11.93%.

(Source: Company Announcements)