As a parent, I’m on the “giving” rather than “receiving” end of Ang Pows during the festive season.
However, my children’s bank accounts are sporting a much-welcome ‘fattening’.
There is a special kind of satisfaction in taking that gift of “new beginnings” and planting it where it can actually grow.
As we enter the Year of the Horse, the Singapore market continues to be that reliable friend, steady, resilient, and full of quality for those with the patience to look.
If you are wondering where to “park” your festive bounty for 2026, these three blue-chip contenders are great places to start.
DBS Group Holdings (SGX: D05) – The Reliable Anchor
If you are looking for a rock to build your portfolio on, look no further than DBS.
The local banking giant has proven that its engine is built for all economic weathers.
In its latest full-year 2025 (FY2025) results, DBS achieved a record profit before tax of S$13.1 billion, showcasing its ability to thrive even as interest rate cycles shift.
The bank’s disciplined approach is best seen in its Return on Equity (ROE), which remained a stellar 16.2%.
DBS is no longer just a lender; it is a cash-generating machine that prioritizes shareholders.
For 2026, management has committed to maintaining its capital return dividend of S$0.15 per quarter.
Add this to the final ordinary dividend of S$0.66, and you get a total quarterly payout of S$0.81 – a clear sign that this blue-chip heavyweight is serious about rewarding those who stay the course.
CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (SGX: C38U), or CICT – A Stake in Singapore’s Physical Growth
If you’ve recently struggled to find a table at a food court in Bugis Junction or navigated the weekend crowds at ION Orchard, you’ve seen Singapore’s largest REIT in action.
For parents, there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that every time the family heads to a CapitaLand mall for a meal, we are contributing to a business we partly own.
The trust’s full-year 2025 (FY2025) results were as robust as the queues at its malls, with the distribution per unit (DPU) growing a healthy 6.4% to S$0.1158.
It’s comforting to see that their portfolio is almost completely full, with a 96.9% occupancy rate, and an even more impressive 98.7% for its retail shops.
But CICT isn’t just sitting back and collecting rent.
It is actively “spring cleaning” its portfolio by selling off older assets like Bukit Panjang Plaza at a premium and reinvesting into fresher, more profitable spaces.
This proactive approach led to a 6.6% rental reversion, proving that even in a digital world, businesses are still clamouring for a spot in CICT’s prime locations.
For investors, this means a leaner, more resilient income stream as we look toward 2026.
Keppel Ltd (SGX: BN4) – The Transformation Play Taking Flight
Keppel has spent the last few years shedding its old skin as an offshore and marine firm to emerge as a global asset management powerhouse.
The “New Keppel” is now focused on the high-growth sectors of the future: data centers and sustainable infrastructure.
This shift is paying off handsomely, with 2025 net profit from core operations soaring 39% to S$1.1 billion.
The company’s asset-light strategy has supercharged its efficiency, with its ROE jumping to 18.7% from 14.9% just a year prior.
Furthermore, its Funds Under Management (FUM) reached S$95 billion at the end of 2025, nearing its S$100 billion target for 2026.
For investors, this transformation translated into a total dividend of approximately S$0.47 per share for the year – a massive 38% jump from 2024.
Keppel is proving that even the oldest giants can learn new, highly profitable tricks.
Get Smart: The Power of Patience
Whether you are reinvesting your own windfall or acting as the “fund manager” for your children’s red packets, the principle remains the same: time is your greatest ally.
By backing stalwarts like DBS, CICT, and Keppel, you are choosing businesses that have built the very Singapore our children are growing up in.
While we can’t control the market’s daily wobbles, we can control the quality of the companies we own.
As the saying goes, “Price is what you pay, but value is what you get.”
Let the magic of compounding do its quiet work, and transform these festive gifts into a lasting head start for yourself or your little ones.
Happy invest and Huat ah!
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Disclosure: Calvina Lee owns shares of DBS.
