Block Inc (ASX: XYZ) shares opened 2% higher on Friday to $115.06, after already jumping 4.5% higher on Thursday. That’s lifting the gain over the past 12 months to around 17%. Despite that solid run, the Afterpay owner still looks like a very interesting proposition for growth-focused investors.

Block offers exposure to some of fintech’s most attractive growth themes, including payments, lending, financial services, point-of-sale software and buy now, pay later. Its Cash App, Square and Afterpay businesses give it multiple avenues to capture that growth.

Investors may also have another reason for optimism: analysts believe Block shares are far from done. 

Block has multiple growth engines

Block has one of the most attractive long-term growth runways in the ASX tech sector. The company owns Square, Cash App, Afterpay and other payment and financial technology businesses, giving it exposure to merchants, consumers, payments, lending, point-of-sale tools, buy now, pay later and broader financial services.

Two powerful ecosystems sit at the centre of the strategy of Block shares. Cash App serves consumers, while Square provides payments, software and financial services to businesses. Afterpay adds another connection between shoppers and merchants.

Cash App’s opportunity extends well beyond peer-to-peer payments. The app is increasingly becoming a financial hub where customers can receive wages, use a debit card, save, borrow, invest and pay for purchases.

That gives Block several ways to deepen relationships with existing users. Someone who starts by sending money to a friend could eventually use Cash App as their primary financial account.

Is Block’s strategy starting to pay off?

The strategy appears to be gaining momentum. Cash App gross profit rose 38% year-on-year in the first quarter of FY26, while consumer lending origination volume jumped 82%.

Square provides another substantial growth engine. Its combination of payments, point-of-sale hardware, banking tools and industry-specific software allows sellers to manage more of their operations through one platform.

International expansion could provide another leg of growth for Block shares. Square’s international gross payment volume rose 35% year-on-year in the latest quarter, yet international volumes remain materially smaller than those in the US, representing approximately 22% of total Square GPV.

AI could add another growth catalyst

Block is also investing in practical artificial intelligence.

Moneybot is now live across Cash App, while Managerbot is being scaled across Square sellers. The tools are designed to help customers and merchants take action rather than simply receive information.

If AI helps sellers identify problems, improve workflows or understand patterns, Square could become even more valuable. Similarly, AI-powered financial guidance could encourage deeper Cash App engagement.

Analysts see major upside

Analysts remain broadly optimistic about Block shares, with several brokers maintaining buy ratings based on the company’s long-term growth potential and prospects for a rebound as economic conditions stabilise.

The average 12-month price target stands at $172.33, implying approximately 50% upside from the current share price.

The most bullish forecasts reach as high as $256, suggesting potential returns of approximately 123%.

For investors seeking exposure to a diversified fintech business, Block’s combination of Cash App, Square, Afterpay and AI initiatives could make the shares one of the more interesting long-term growth opportunities in the ASX technology sector.

The post Experts tip Afterpay owner Block shares to deliver over 50% returns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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 Block. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) and the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) are two popular ways for ASX investors to access US shares.

I think both are strong long-term investments.

But the better choice comes down largely to how much concentration and volatility an investor is comfortable accepting.

Why I like the IVV ETF

The IVV ETF tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving investors exposure to around 500 of America’s largest companies.

I like it as a core holding because the portfolio reaches across technology, healthcare, financial services, industrials, consumer businesses, and other major parts of the US economy.

There is still plenty of exposure to companies benefiting from technological change. Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon are among the major businesses represented.

But the investment case does not depend as heavily on technology remaining the strongest part of the market.

That makes the IVV ETF the option I would favour if I wanted broad US exposure and something I could comfortably keep adding to through a wide range of market conditions.

Why take more risk with the NDQ ETF?

The NDQ ETF tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index, which contains 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq.

Its portfolio is much more concentrated in technology and growth businesses. That could work particularly well if areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, semiconductors, digital advertising, and software continue expanding strongly over the next decade.

I also like that the Nasdaq 100 can change as new corporate leaders emerge. Investors are not locking themselves into today’s biggest technology companies forever.

The trade-off is that the NDQ ETF can be much more sensitive when growth shares fall out of favour.

A sharp sell-off in technology can hit a large portion of the portfolio at once, while the IVV ETF has more exposure to other industries that may behave differently.

For investors comfortable riding through those swings, I think the extra concentration could also provide greater upside if its major growth businesses continue performing strongly.

Which would I buy?

If I wanted the more balanced option, I would choose the IVV ETF.

It still gives me access to many of America’s leading growth companies, but I would be spreading my money across a much wider section of the economy.

If I had a higher tolerance for risk and wanted greater exposure to technology-led growth, I would lean towards the NDQ ETF.

There is also no reason investors necessarily need to choose only one. Holding both would increase exposure to many companies that appear in each index, so I would just be conscious of that overlap.

Foolish takeaway

For me, this is less about identifying a winner and more about choosing the ETF that suits the investor.

The IVV ETF would be my preference for someone wanting broad US exposure with less concentration.

The NDQ ETF could suit investors willing to accept more volatility in pursuit of stronger growth.

I think both can be excellent buy and hold investments when matched with the right risk tolerance.

The post IVV vs NDQ ETF: Which is the better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These are the most popular ASX ETFs – Which has performed best in 2026?
• ASX shares investors are getting younger and trading more often: CBA report
• How much passive income can I earn off a $630,000 superannuation balance
• Are these 3 top Betashares ETFs a buy in September?
• How to build an ASX portfolio you do not need to check every day

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Amazon, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) share price is trading around $31.89 on Friday.

For a global healthcare business with a long runway still ahead, I think that price is becoming difficult to overlook.

A huge amount of the market remains untreated

ResMed is already one of the world’s leading providers of sleep apnoea treatment, but the potential market is far from mature.

The company estimates that more than one billion people globally have sleep apnoea. Yet fewer than 20% of patients in the US are diagnosed or treated, with penetration below 10% across the rest of the world.

That puts the growth opportunity into perspective. ResMed does not need to discover an entirely new market. There is already an enormous population that could benefit from treatment but has yet to receive it.

The company also expects the number of US adults with obstructive sleep apnoea to reach around 77 million by 2050.

I think improving awareness, diagnosis, and access to treatment could keep bringing new patients into the market for many years.

More patients can mean years of spending

ResMed’s opportunity does not finish when somebody receives their first machine.

Treatment generally involves masks and other products that need replacing over time, giving the company an ongoing relationship with patients.

ResMed says the global device market is growing at a mid-single-digit rate, while the market for masks is growing at a high-single-digit rate.

I like that combination. The company can benefit from more people beginning treatment while continuing to serve the large group already using its products.

ResMed is also expanding more broadly into sleep health, including areas such as restless legs syndrome following its acquisition of Noctrix.

The valuation looks attractive

According to CommSec, consensus earnings per share forecasts stand at $1.69 in FY27, $1.84 in FY28, and $1.98 in FY29.

At $31.89, the company trades on a PE ratio of just under 19 times forecast FY27 earnings.

By FY29, today’s ResMed share price represents a little over 16 times expected earnings.

I think that looks cheap for a business expected to keep growing earnings while pursuing such an underpenetrated global market.

There are still risks. Competition, changes in treatment methods, healthcare reimbursement, and weaker-than-expected patient growth could all affect the outlook.

Foolish takeaway

What attracts me at $31.89 is the combination of a cheap valuation and a growth opportunity that still looks substantial.

ResMed already has global scale, but treatment penetration suggests there are many more patients still to reach.

With earnings also forecast to rise over the next few years, I think the current share price offers an attractive entry point for long-term investors.

The post Is the ResMed share price too cheap to ignore? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 shares tipped by brokers to return 17% to 43%
• How I’d use ASX shares to build wealth outside my superannuation
• How to build an ASX portfolio you can stick with for 10 years
• How to build an ASX portfolio you do not need to check every day
• Where I’d invest $10,000 in ASX shares in September

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.