Author: therawinformant

  • Nanosonics and 2 other ASX healthcare shares to buy

    Doctor with stethoscope in hand and data graph showing upward trend

    With the word ‘COVID‘ on the tip of almost everyone’s tongue, hospitals under pressure to keep up with demand and companies racing to find a vaccine, is it time to think about investing in health?

    The ASX healthcare sector contains more than 100 companies. When I talk about healthcare, I am including healthcare equipment, services, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and even life-science companies. Given the breadth of the sector, it can certainly be daunting to try and choose a healthcare company to invest in. Here are 3 of my favourite ASX healthcare shares to consider adding to your portfolio.

    CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

    CSL (formerly known as Commonwealth Serum Laboratories) was founded over 100 years ago in Melbourne. Among the many achievements CSL has celebrated, the most recent is the development of the world’s first human papillomavirus vaccine, known as Gardasil.

    Earlier this month, CSL announced it is working to fight COVID-19 as well, by joining an industry partnership known as the CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance. Needless to say, with the history of success CSL has, I’m interested to see what happens next. With its strong background in vaccines, I’m glad CSL is looking for solutions to our current pandemic.

    The CSL share price is selling at around $271.73 (at the time of writing) and although this is a littler lower that its previous high of $343 before the March crash, its returns for investors over time have been spectacular. CSL shares are up more than 700% over the last decade. Current prices represent a 20% discount on the previous high, which is another reason I feel CSL shares are worthy of portfolio consideration.

    Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)

    Ramsay Health is another Aussie success story. Founded in 1964 in Sydney, Ramsay is a private healthcare provider. It has operations across multiple countries and specialises in surgery, rehabilitation and psychiatric care. Ramsay is the largest operator of private hospitals in the country, boasting 70 hospitals and day surgery units.

    Trading at around $63 (at the time of writing), Ramsay’s current share price represents a 20% discount on previous highs. Ramsay shares have grown in value approximately 370% over the last decade.

    One of the issues Ramsay has faced during the COVID-19 crisis is the suspension of elective surgeries. The company has announced that it is gradually reintroducing elective surgery now, implementing new safety measures for patients. With its strong portfolio and the recent resumption of elective surgeries, it could be a good time to consider adding Ramsay Health shares to your portfolio.

    Nanosonics Ltd. (ASX: NAN)

    Founded in 2001 and based in Sydney, Nanosonics is an innovator in infection prevention. Recognising a problem with healthcare-associated infections, Nanosonics has developed many solutions, including its signature product, the ‘trophon EPR’. This product provides a safe, simple solution to prevent ultrasound probe cross-contamination. For patients, this ensures high level disinfection and kills human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to cause cancer. Nanosonics technology is used around the world, including countries such as America, Canada, France, Germany, Singapore and many others.

    Trading around $6.20 (at the time of writing), the Nanosonics share price represents a 19% discount to previous highs. More importantly, over the last decade, Nanosonics shares have delivered a more than 1,000% return to investors. I feel that Nanosonics is a strong contender for portfolio inclusion.

    Foolish takeaway

    I’ve selected these 3 ASX healthcare shares as I feel that they are well positioned in the market and relevant to the COVID-19 crisis. Healthcare is an industry that is here forever, in some form or another. With CSL developing vaccines, Ramsay operating hospitals and Nanosonics preventing infections, they all offer a high value proposition to the healthcare space. The current pandemic only adds to that value.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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    Motley Fool contributor Glenn Leese has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of CSL Ltd. and Nanosonics Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nanosonics Limited and Ramsay Health Care Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • Why the IGO share price is the worst performer on the ASX 200 today

    beaten down shares

    The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price crashed this morning even as the miner forecasted a big uplift in revenue and earnings.

    The nickel miner’s (formerly known as Independence Group) share price tumbled 9% to $5.03. This makes it the worst performer on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) at the time of writing.

    The slump is nearly twice that of the second worst performer, the GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD) share price which tanked 4.9% to $11.16.

    In case you are wondering, in third spot is the NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH) share price with its 3.6% loss to $1.72.

    Big uplift in revenue

    But it’s IGO that’s worse for wear as its full year forecasts fell short of market expectations. Management said that FY20 revenue would hit $892.4 million after fourth quarter sales jumped 23% quarter on quarter (QoQ) to $230.6 million.

    The full year figure is nearly $100 million ahead of what it posted last year and is the pleasing part of the update, in my view.

    The problem is that IGO is forecasting full year underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $459.6 million.

    High earnings bar

    While that’s around 35% ahead of the previous year’s result, it falls short of analysts’ expectations.

    For instance, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) was expecting management to post an operational EBIDTA of $530 million.

    Investors may have also been put off by IGO’s FY21 production guidance as the miner is expecting to produce less of its key commodities.

    Falling production in FY21

    IGO is guiding to produce between 27,000 to 29,000 tonnes of nickel in concentrate at its flagship Nova mine this financial year. This compares to the 30,436 tonnes it produced in FY20.

    The amount of copper it’s hoping to mine is also lower for FY21 at 11,000 to 12,500 tonnes when it recorded 13,772 tonnes last financial year.

    Its Nova project was a real star performer in the June quarter as it delivered ahead of expectations. This perhaps created an expectation that it will keep surprising on the upside. Shareholders will be hoping management is just being conservative.

    Is IGO share price a buy?

    Forecasted gold production at IGO’s Tropicana JV mine will also fall short of FY20. The mine produced 463,100 ounces of the precious metal in total but this is expected to fall to 380,000 to 430,000 ounces in FY21. So much for capitalising on the record high gold price.

    But I suspect IGO will soon draw in bargain hunters if its shares fall much further. The outlook for nickel is bright thanks to the growth in electrified vehicles and the miner holds a strong balance sheet.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Macquarie Group Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • Why AP Eagers, CIMIC, NAB, & Virgin Money shares are charging higher

    asx 200, share price increase

    In late morning trade the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has given back its early gains and is dropping lower. At the time of writing the benchmark index is down 0.2% to 6,007.6 points.

    Four shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are charging higher:

    The AP Eagers Ltd (ASX: APE) share price has jumped 7% to $7.56 on the day of its annual general meeting. In its presentation, management confirmed that trading conditions are difficult. However, it remains confident it will report an underlying profit from continuing operations of $40.3 million during the first half. This represents a 23.6% decline from the prior corresponding period.

    The CIMIC Group Ltd (ASX: CIM) share price is up 3% to $23.03. This morning the engineering company signed an exclusivity agreement with funds advised by Elliott Advisors UK. This is in relation to the potential investment by Elliott into 50% of the share capital of CIMIC’s Thiess business. Management notes that introduction of an equity partner into Thiess would capitalise on the robust outlook for the mining sector and provide capital for Thiess’ continued growth.

    The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price is up 1.5% to $18.12. This follows news that APRA has eased restrictions around paying dividends. APRA notes that it has had the opportunity to review banks’ and insurers’ financial projections and stress testing results. Although it still wants the banks to retain at least half of their earnings when making decisions on capital distributions, this is not as bad as some feared.

    The Virgin Money UK (ASX: VUK) share price is up 2% to $1.82. Investors have been buying the UK-based bank’s shares following the release of its third quarter update after the market close on Tuesday. Virgin Money UK reported a 4.8% increase in customer deposits to £67.7 billion and a 5.7% increase in Business lending growth to £8.8 billion. It also revealed no material provisions related to the pandemic.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • Downer share price lower despite contract wins

    finger selecting sad face from choice of happy, sad and neutral faces on screen

    The Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW) share price has edged lower this morning despite the infrastructure company announcing $324 million in contract wins. Downer EDI’s asset services business has been awarded a number of contracts in the power generation, oil and gas, and industrial sectors with a combined value of approximately $324 million.

    What does Downer EDI do? 

    Downer EDI designs, builds, and maintains assets, infrastructure, and facilities. The leading provider of integrated services in Australia and New Zealand, Downer EDI also owns 88% of Spotless Group Holdings. The company has a solid track record of delivering installation, maintenance, and shutdown services to customers across Australia. 

    What did Downer EDI announce? 

    Downer EDI announced the award of contracts across a number of markets. In the power generation market, Downer has been awarded contracts to deliver outages and supplementary labour to a power plant in NSW, install a stator at a plant in Victoria, and inspect and rewind generator rotors in Queensland. 

    In the oil and gas market, Downer was awarded a contract with Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) for multi-disciplinary works across a number of sites and an extension to a maintenance contract for a natural gas facility in Darwin. In the industrial market, the company has been awarded a contract with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) for capital projects at iron ore sites and a contract with Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) for electrical maintenance and shutdowns.  

    CEO Grant Fenn said “the contract wins demonstrate Downer’s position as an industry leader in the delivery of major maintenance and specialist services to customers in the resources, energy, and industrial sectors”. He also commented that “…Downer has an excellent track record of delivering installation, maintenance and shutdown services to our customers across Australia”. 

    How has the Downer share price been performing? 

    The Downer share price fell a massive 69% between its January high and March low. By comparison the S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) fell 36.5% from its high in February to its low on 23 March. Although the Downer EDI share price has gained 55.6% from its low, it remains 52.2% below its high for the year. The ASX 200 is currently 16.1% below its high for the year. Despite the impacts of COVID-19, Downer EDI reports cash performance improved materially in the second half of the financial year. Underlying EBITDA of $410 – $420 million is forecast for FY20, with NPATA of $210 – $220 million.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Kate O’Brien owns shares of BHP Billiton Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Wesfarmers Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • Why the Westpac share price is storming higher today

    Westpac

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is storming higher today and helping to drive the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) higher.

    At the time of writing the banking giant’s shares are up 3% to $17.98.

    Why is the Westpac share price storming higher?

    Westpac, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and the rest of the big four banks have been pushing higher today after APRA eased restrictions around paying dividends.

    APRA notes that it has had the opportunity to review banks’ and insurers’ financial projections and stress testing results.

    And while it still wants the banks to retain at least half of their earnings when making decisions on capital distributions, this is not as bad as some feared.

    APRA Chair Wayne Byres said the updated guidance balanced the need for banks and insurers to keep supporting households and businesses, while also maintaining a prudent approach in the face of a very sharp and severe economic contraction.

    Westpac brings jobs back to Australia.

    In other news, this morning Westpac announced that it will be boosting the economy by bringing back 1,000 jobs to Australia.

    It is making the move as it seeks to bolster the strength and resilience of its operations and improve support for customers.

    The decision follows a surge in demand for customer assistance at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created challenging conditions for home lending processing and call centres.

    Westpac Chief Executive Officer, Peter King, commented: “While we have added additional resourcing to support unprecedented demand following COVID-19, and I thank our teams who have worked tirelessly helping customers, at times our response rates have been too slow.”

    “We will also be returning all dedicated voice roles to Australia to enhance the capacity of our existing call centres. This will mean when a customer calls us, it will be answered by someone in Australia.”

    “Bringing jobs back to Australia has been made possible with the changing work patterns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the upgrade to our technology infrastructure over recent years. Together these have enabled our teams to operate effectively at home or in other locations when needed,” Mr King said.

    This will come at a cost, though. While Westpac expects the change to help to improve productivity, the creation of 1,000 roles is expected to initially increase costs by around $45 million per annum by the end of FY 2021.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • Best Automotive Stocks For 2020 According To Hedge Funds

    Best Automotive Stocks For 2020 According To Hedge FundsWhat are the best automotive stocks for 2020? The automotive industry is hugely visible and has generally attracted considerable interest from investors for decades. However, these stocks are also cyclical in nature, as they tend to advance or decline with the prevalent economic tide. When there is uncertainty or fear about the economy, automotive companies’ […]

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  • Wisr share price surges 10% on loan growth

    digital apply now button against backdrop of laptop keyboard

    The Wisr Ltd (ASX: WZR) share price has surged 10.4% today after the neolender reported a 38% month on month loan growth yesterday. In its fourth quarter report, Wisr revealed it had delivered a number of growth records for the quarter, including a 50% increase in revenue compared to 3Q FY20. Despite the positive news, the Wisr share price actually edged lower yesterday before today’s early rally.

    What does Wisr do?

    Wisr is an online lender that originates personal loans of $5,000 to $60,000 to Australian consumers. The company brands itself as enhancing customer financial wellness through a network of products that allow for low cost customer acquisition. These include an app, a workplace financial wellness program, and a debt reduction tool. The Wisr ‘ecosystem’ has continued to attract customers throughout the coronavirus pandemic with the business performing above management expectations.  

    What did Wisr report? 

    Wisr reported record loan originations of $19.1 million in June. This was up 38% on May’s $13.8 million. The loan origination rate is now 45% above pre-COVID levels, with weekly settled loan volumes exceeding $5 million for the first time. Wisr switched to a warehouse funding model late last year which provided for an approximate tripling of average margin compared to previous loan unit economics. This delivered $2.9 million in operating revenue in 4Q FY20, a 50% increase on 3Q FY20, and a 188% increase on 4Q FY19. 

    At 30 June, Wisr had originated $244.9 million of loans, including $42.2 million in new loans originated in 4Q FY20. The loan book is continuing to grow in quality metrics as well as size. In 4Q FY20 the average credit score was 723 versus the Australian average of around 600. The company reports that it is strongly capitalised with $40 million in cash and liquid loan assets at 30 June 2020. 

    What is the outlook for Wisr? 

    Wisr took a prudent approach to the onset of coronavirus, tightening credit policy and reducing risk tolerance. Nonetheless, the company achieved significant loan origination growth and revenue uplift in the fourth quarter. Some 239,000 Australian have now been introduced to Wisr’s ecosystem. 

    CEO Anthony Nantes said, “our unique Wisr Ecosystem strategy provides us with a strong platform to scale and grow, as well as enabling us to really help our customers, which we will continue to do during these rapidly changing times.” Wisr says its agile fintech business model has the company well positioned for growth through current challenging conditions, setting the company up for a strong revenue growth trajectory over coming quarters. 

    At the time of writing, the Wisr share price is trading at 26.5 cents which is a 39% increase year to date.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Kate O’Brien has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • NextEra Energy, Inc. Recorded A 21% Miss On Revenue: Analysts Are Revisiting Their Models

    NextEra Energy, Inc. Recorded A 21% Miss On Revenue: Analysts Are Revisiting Their ModelsNextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) last week reported its latest second-quarter results, which makes it a good time for…

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  • CBA and 2 more ASX shares to buy and hold forever

    man holding sign stating create value, value shares, asx 200 shares, warren buffett

    It’s hard to find high-quality ASX shares to buy and hold forever.

    Even when we do find them, having the patience and discipline to invest for the long-term can be hard.

    Here are 3 ASX shares that I would like to buy and hold as part of a diversified portfolio.

    3 ASX shares to buy and hold forever

    If I’m buying and holding S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares for the long-term then I don’t want anything too speculative.

    Ideally, I’d like to have a mix of strong dividend shares and growth. On top of that, diversification across industries would be ideal.

    Now, with all of that said, is it possible to find that mix?

    I’d start by purchasing a strong ASX blue-chip share like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

    Commonwealth Bank shares are down 7.8% this year but that isn’t really the most important factor. If I’m buying and holding forever, today’s or tomorrow’s share price won’t make a huge difference.

    CommBank has historically paid (and raised) dividends like clockwork. I also think to a large extent the economic fortunes of the big banks are tied to that of the country.

    To me, that says that the ASX bank share is worth buying for the long-term and weathering the various economic and business cycles.

    On top of a foundation share like CommBank, I’d also like a bit of defensive exposure. Rather than invest in ASX gold shares, I like industries with non-cyclical earnings.

    That means ASX Consumer Discretionary shares are worth a look.

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares have rocketed 22.37% higher this year but I think they’re a good buy for pure supermarket exposure.

    Aussies have flocked to supermarkets and caused sales to surge in 2020. Clearly, that’s very pandemic-specific, but the Coles share price could still be a good buy.

    Supermarkets provide food and other daily essentials. That means even when times are tough, they provide solid earnings and potentially a more stable dividend than other ASX shares.

    Finally, a bit of long-term growth would be a good idea. That means a strong tech share like Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) could be in the buy zone.

    The Nextdc share price has already surged 339.44% in 5 years but given the important role that data security and off-site management could play in the future, I think that growth trajectory could continue.

    NextDC has a clearly-defined growth strategy and has successfully executed it thus far. Despite strong recent gains, I think NextDC has real potential as part of a new frontier of Aussie innovation and data security.

    Therefore, a small allocation to NextDC shares may help portfolio diversification.

    Foolish takeaway

    In the end, portfolio construction is neither an art nor a science.

    There is a lot of discretion involved, and the optimal portfolio will vary greatly depending on your individual finances, beliefs and investment objectives.

    I still think diversification is vital for strong risk-adjusted returns over many decades. How that is achieved is ultimately up to the investor and where they think the best market buys are right now.

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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  • How to turn $20,000 into $100,000 with ASX ETF shares

    Illustration of growing pile of gold coins and a share market chart

    It’s hard to focus on the long-term when ASX shares are so volatile.

    The March bear market threw a real spanner in the works for investors. New investors, in particular, can be the first to head for the exits when their investments are falling.

    That means now could be a good time to re-evaluate your investing strategy. Let’s say, hypothetically, that you’ve got an initial sum of $20,000 to invest in the share market and are looking at a long-term investment horizon of 20 years. Here’s how I would invest $20,000 for 20 years in ASX shares.

    How to invest $20,000 for 20 years in ASX shares

    Well, $20,000 is a lot of money, but you really want to be able to grow that number over time by investing it into the share market. But every time you buy and sell ASX shares there are costs associated, like brokerage fees and taxes.

    I would lean towards investing your first $20,000 in a diversified exchange-traded fund (ETF), as ETFs can provide instant diversification with very low management fees.

    If you just want to passively track the Aussie share market, a low-cost ETF like Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is a good option.

    Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF seeks to track the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) and currently holds 306 securities. That’s a good chunk of the total share market if you want a passive investment in ASX shares.

    It’s not just broad market indexes that you can invest in. If you want targeted exposure, you could try a sector or industry-specific index like ETFS Morningstar Global Technology ETF (ASX: TECH).

    This allows you to get broad exposure to ASX (and international) tech shares without betting on individual companies straight away.

    Buying shares in these sorts of ASX ETFs can provide diversified exposure to a whole host of underlying companies.

    But how does it work in practice?

    Let’s use the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF as an example.

    Since its inception, this fund has returned an average of 8.18% on an annualised basis.

    Let’s see what happens if we invest $20,000 at 8.18% per year for 20 years:

    Chart: Author’s own

    As the graph above indicates, that initial capital would grow to be worth a handy $96,376 by the end of a 20-year period.

    The story is even better if you make some additional contributions along the way. So, if you invested an additional $1,000 per year, that original $20,000 investment would grow to be worth $143,060 across a 20-year investing horizon.

    Of course, this is before you take into account inflation and what $96,376 or $143,060 would buy you in 20 years. However, the proof is in the pudding that investing in ASX shares for the long-term can pay dividends.

    Can I only achieve this with ETFs?

    Not at all! In fact, many investors would have already seen some strong gains this year. In particular, those who purchased ASX shares in mid-March would have picked some absolute winners.

    Aside from Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT), other top performers include A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG).

    Picking high-quality companies and investing with a long-term view is the key. With a strong investment strategy and a touch of good fortune, you may well have more than $96,376 or $143,060 in 20 years’ time.

    Legendary stock picker names 5 cheap stocks to buy right now

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon five stocks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

    These little-known ASX stocks are growing like gangbusters, yet you can buy them today for less than $5 a share. Click here to learn more.

    See these 5 cheap stocks

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    Ken Hall owns shares of Vanguard Australian Shares Index. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of ETFS Morningstar Global Technology ETF. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of A2 Milk and AFTERPAY T FPO. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. 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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