There are a number of ASX index exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but theyâre not for me personally — or my portfolio. At least, not at this stage.
Investors have probably heard about some of the ASX index ETF options that are essentially based on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) or the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO).
Iâm referring to ones like Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ), and BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200).
Each has very low management fees, allowing investors to track the market for very little.
Investors may also have seen that fees are about to come down even further.
The iShares ASX 200 ETF is going to reduce its annual fee to 0.05%. Meantime, BetaShares Australia 200 ETF has decided to reduce its annual fees to just 0.04%.
Despite that positive development, Iâm not looking to invest in any of these sorts of ASX index ETFs.
ASX blue chips largely donât appeal to me
I think investors could do just fine with any of those ETFs. But Iâm still a relatively young investor â I have decades of compounding ahead of me. Iâm looking for investments that can provide an attractive level of capital growth. Dividends are nice too, but itâs not the only important thing to me.
When I look at the biggest positions in these ASX index ETFs, I see names like Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS).
At the right price, I wouldnât mind owning these businesses but none of the ones I mentioned appeal at the moment â so why would I want them as a large part of my ETFâs portfolio?
Theyâre already so big and I donât see how they can deliver a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from here. A lot of the return from those names come in the form of dividends. As a full-time earner, that means quite a bit of the return would be reduced by tax each year.
Donât get me wrong, I do like some blue chips such as Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB). I particularly like their outlooks.
But I generally believe that there are smaller businesses, some with more defensive earnings, that could make better investments for my portfolio. I regularly write about some of the names I like as potential ASX 200 share investments.
ETFs can deliver growth
On the ASX, there are dozens of different ETFs to choose from.
Certainly, I think there are some that could deliver capital growth such as VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) and Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK).
Put simply, some businesses seem to have a bigger growth runway than the ASXâs banks and miners, which could help deliver profit growth and share price growth.
To achieve the total returns Iâm looking for, I want to find ASX shares that can achieve good profit growth, are putting their profit generation to good use, and are trading at a price that makes sense to buy.
The post Why Iâm not investing in ASX index ETFs (yet) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
“Cornerstone” ETFs for building long term wealth…
Scott Phillips says plenty of people who hear the ‘ETFs are great’ story don’t realise one important thing. Not all ETFs are the same — or as good as you may think.
To help investors navigate this often misunderstood area of the market, he’s released research revealing the “cornerstone” ETFs he thinks everyone should be looking at right now. (Plus which ones to avoid.)
Click here to get all the details
*Returns as of February 1 2023
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More reading
- 3 excellent ETFs for ASX investors to buy in March
- 2 ASX ETFs I’d buy as a beginner investor
- There’s an ETF price war on the ASX right now. Here’s what you need to know
- Iâd aim for a million buying just a few cheap ASX shares!
- 2 ASX ETFs I’d buy for my child for the long term
Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
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