Category: Stock Market

With the global uranium race heating up, investors may want to run their slide rule over ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM).

URNM is intended to track the performance of a basket of Australian and international uranium miners.

You can buy and sell shares in this top ASX ETF just like you would with individual stocks.

And it gives you instant diversification and exposure to 38 leading uranium producers across the globe.

Launched in June 2022, URNM’s top four holdings are internationally listed companies:

• Cameco Corp
• NAC Kazatomprom JSC
• Sprott Physical Uranium Trust
• CGN Mining Co LTD

Two leading ASX uranium stocks are also in the ETF’s top 10 holdings. Namely Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) and Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE).

Australia is second only to Canada in terms of URNM’s country allocation, with Kazakhstan at number three and the United States at number four.

The ASX ETF has been running hot amid the global uranium renaissance. According to Betashares, as at 31 May and including dividends, the fund had returned 89.4% over the prior 12 months (although returns will have partially retreated from this figure as at the time of writing).

ASX ETF making hay amid global nuclear revival

As you’re likely aware, nations around the world are fast reversing their opposition to nuclear energy as a means to provide reliable baseload power without carbon emissions.

And that change in sentiment has been a boon for this ASX ETF.

Today, at least 58 new nuclear power stations are under construction across 16 countries. Twenty-two of these are in China, with India also investing heavily in new nuclear plants.

But the world’s two most populous nations aren’t alone.

In December, 22 nations – including the United States, Japan and France – pledged to triple their nuclear power capacity by 2050.

And in good news for uranium producers and this ASX ETF, the US Government recently unveiled a major spending package to up its nuclear capacity.

According to US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm:

We are entering a new era of nuclear energy, our single largest source of carbon-free electricity. We plan to invest up to US$900 million to accelerate nuclear deployment, add more small modular reactors, and reach more Americans with clean energy.

With uranium supply growth trailing demand growth, uranium prices hit all-time highs of around US$107 per pound in late January, up from an average of US$67 per pound in 2023.

Prices have come down from there, recently trading for US$86 per pound. That’s also seen the URNM share price drop by around 12% over the past month.

But with uranium demand widely expected to outstrip new supplies for years yet, I believe that’s just a bump in the road for longer-term investors in the top ASX ETF and could present an excellent entry point.

What are the experts saying?

Commenting on the global nuclear renaissance Guy Keller, fund manager at Tribeca Investment Partners said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

I think the real change has been global … which has made it much more politically safe… There has been a massive, wholesale global adoption of nuclear technology and its ability to solve decarbonisation of the electricity grid, and also some very serious energy security concerns.

Regal Partner’s Phil King is among those forecasting tight uranium supplies are likely to persist for some time.

According to King:

We’re seeing a huge rollout of nuclear plants all around the world, and this is very much led by India and China. Because of the time it takes to get new mines into production, this … almost guarantees that we’re facing a very, very tight scenario for uranium.

With this “very tight scenario for uranium” in mind, I think this ASX ETF looks well placed for more outperformance in the year ahead.

The post 1 top ASX ETF to buy now as the global uranium race heats up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why these 5 ASX ETFs could be quality options for investors
• Here’s why ASX uranium shares like Deep Yellow are running hot today

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Cameco. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Betashares Global Uranium Etf. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a very strong session and raced higher. The benchmark index stormed 1.35% higher to 7,838.8 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

It looks set to be a red day for the Australian share market on Wednesday despite a relatively positive session in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 36 points or 0.45% lower. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down 0.75%, but the S&P 500 pushed 0.4% higher and the Nasdaq climbed 1.25%.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a tough day after oil prices pulled back overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.1% to US$80.77 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.2% to US$84.94 a barrel. Easing tensions between Israel and Lebanon were behind the weakness.

Buy Bellevue Gold shares

The Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) share price is good value according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. This morning, the broker has initiated coverage on the gold miner with a buy rating and $2.20 price target. This implies potential upside of 24% for investors. It said: “With BGL largely through initial ramp up, we see the business well positioned amongst mid-cap peers at ~200-250kozpa gold production, with higher average grades and stronger margin generation, where low cost mill expansion/underground optionality support further upside.”

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued session after the gold price eased overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 0.6% to US$2,331.1 an ounce. A stronger US dollar and widening bond yields put pressure on the precious metal.

Perpetual rated as a buy

Analysts at Bell Potter think investors should be buying Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT) shares. According to a note, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating and $27.60 price target on the fund manager’s shares. This implies potential upside of 30% for investors. Its analysts continue to believe that Perpetual’s shares are undervalued by the market. They said: “We continue to see considerable upside from the current share price.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buying ASX 200 energy shares? Here’s what to expect in FY 2025
• Want gold exposure? Goldman Sachs says this ASX 200 gold stock is a buy
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

Your compulsory Superannuation Guarantee payment will rise from 11% to 11.5% of earnings and Stage 3 tax cuts will kick in from next week.

Let’s take a look at the details.

Superannuation changes starting next Monday

The Superannuation Guarantee ascends again from 1 July from 11% of earnings to 11.5% of earnings.

This is the payment made by your employer directly into your superannuation fund.

Say your salary is $100,000 plus superannuation. In FY24, you will have received $11,000 via the Superannuation Guarantee. In FY25, you will receive an extra $500 with your payment rising to $11,500.

Another superannuation change coming into effect next week is an increase in the personal concessional contributions cap from $27,500 to $30,000 for FY25. More about this later.

What about those tax cuts?

Every taxpayer will receive a tax cut from 1 July under the amended Stage 3 tax cuts.

Here are a few examples of how the tax cuts will affect wage earners.

Example 1. A worker earning $55,000 per year will save $1,054 per year in tax.

Example 2. A worker earning $80,000 per year will save $1,679 per year in tax.

Example 3. A worker earning $140,000 per year will save $3,729 per year in tax.

Here are the individual tax rate tables for FY24 and FY25. Use the following details to work out the exact tax savings you will receive based on your specific salary.

Resident tax rates FY25

Taxable income	Tax on this income
$0 – $18,200	Nil
$18,201 – $45,000	16 cents for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000	$4,288 plus 30 cents for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000	$31,288 plus 37 cents for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over	$51,638 plus 45 cents for each $1 over $190,000

Resident tax rates FY24

Taxable income	Tax on this income
$0 – $18,200	Nil
$18,201 – $45,000	19 cents for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $120,000	$5,092 plus 32.5 cents for each $1 over $45,000
$120,001 – $180,000	$29,467 plus 37 cents for each $1 over $120,000
$180,001 and over	$51,667 plus 45 cents for each $1 over $180,000

One week left to add extra funds to superannuation

There is only one week left to make personal contributions to your superannuation (and pick up the substantial tax concession that comes with it) before FY24 ends.

Personal superannuation contributions (up to the cap of $27,500 for FY24) are taxed at just 15%. This is far lower than most workers’ marginal tax rates.

Personal contributions include the compulsory superannuation guarantee paid by your employer, any salary sacrificing you have arranged, and any extra money you choose to add yourself before 30 June.

Here’s how the tax concession works.

Say you contribute $8,000 of post-tax earnings into superannuation. Your super fund will pay the 15% tax on your behalf. That will leave $6,800 to be invested in accordance with your selected strategy.

When you fill in your tax return, you will claim an $8,000 tax deduction, effectively cancelling out the original tax you paid on the $8,000.

Findex tax advisory partner Alex Duonis explains the benefit:

A high earning taxpayer may obtain a tax deduction at a rate of up to 47.5% in respect of such super contributions but may only pay contributions tax at the fund level of 15%, thus generating a potential immediate tax arbitrage benefit of 32.5%.

Make sure you check out all the rules relating to personal concessional superannuation contributions before making any decisions.

After depositing your funds, you must fill in a Notice of Intent to Claim or Vary a Deduction for Personal Super Contributions form and send it to your superannuation fund.

The post Superannuation and tax changes starting next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is the Pilbara Minerals share price on track for a strong recovery in FY25?
• For a shot at $1,320 a year in passive income, buy 2,000 shares of this ASX stock
• 2 ASX 200 retirement shares to buy in July
• Nvidia is no longer the most valuable company in the world. Here’s what investors need to know
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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 Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price has sunk 35% in the last 12 months, as shown on the chart below. With FY25 just around the corner, it’s worthwhile considering if the ASX lithium share can recharge investor returns.

The ASX mining share has been struggling with the commodity price sinking. In the quarterly update for the three months to 31 March 2024, it revealed that its realised price for its production dropped 28% to US$804 per tonne, down from US$1,113 per tonne for the three months to December 2023.

Commodity businesses’ profits are closely linked to the strength of the commodity price. Production costs don’t cost much month to month, so a decrease in revenue significantly harms net profit as well, which can then flow onto the share price. That’s what has happened to Pilbara Minerals shares.

Lithium price stabilising

Pilbara Minerals reported in the quarterly update that, compared to the December 2023 quarter, the lithium price stabilised and then increased towards the end of the March 2024 quarter. A pre-auction sale in March of 5,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt) at a price of US$1,106 per dmt reflects the “ongoing demand and positive pricing for unallocated production volume”.

UBS said last week in a note that it thinks a spot price of US$1,050 to US$1,075 per tonne is a “fair reflection of a well-supplied market.”

The broker thinks the market is still pricing in a lithium rebound to US$1,440 per tonne based on the Pilbara Minerals share price. UBS suggests it could take a couple of years for the lithium price to return to UBS’ long-term target of US$1,400 per tonne.

UBS notes the recent announcement of a pre-feasibility study by Pilbara Minerals that shows the Pilgagoora project could expect to be 2mt per annum in the future.

However, in the short term:

We continue to see the market well supplied and now longer-term we see plans from the likes of P2000 and Zijin Mining’s Manono as quickly solving any potential 2030 deficit.

FY25 forecast for Pilbara Minerals shares

UBS now predicts the ASX lithium share can generate $1.27 billion of revenue in FY24 and FY25, while net profit after tax (NPAT) could increase to $398 million in FY24, up from a projected $359 million in FY24.

The UBS price target on Pilbara Minerals shares is $2.70, which currently suggests a 14% decline over the next 12 months from where the valuation sits today.

The post Is the Pilbara Minerals share price on track for a strong recovery in FY25? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Pilbara Minerals shares: Buy or Sell?
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Why Guzman y Gomez, KMD, Mineral Resources, and Pilbara Minerals shares are sinking
• Top 10 most traded ASX shares and US stocks in May

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.

Almost all ASX investors who buy ASX dividend shares do so in order to receive a reliable stream of passive income.

After all, dividends can give us a source of secondary income, which we can use to reinvest into even more ASX shares, or else just use to pay bills.

If I were after a reliable ASX dividend share in June 2024, one option springs to mind: Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares.

Coles is a company we’d all be fairly familiar with. The company owns the second-largest grocery and supermarket chain in the country, as well as several other bottleshop businesses, including Liquorland and Vintage Cellars.

Why is Coles a solid ASX dividend share?

Coles has most of the characteristics I look for in a solid, long-term passive income investment.

For one, it is a stable, mature business. This means that Coles has to spend very little, relatively speaking, on expanding its business, instead relying on past investments to collect its cash flows. Because of this, Coles can afford to allocate a significant chunk of its annual profits towards funding dividend payments rather than new stores, new employees or back-of-house infrastructure.

But Coles is also a consumer staples stock, meaning it can usually afford to pay out its dividends with remarkable consistency, regardless of the economic weather.

Many ASX dividend shares have to continually adjust their payouts depending on the health of the overall economy.

When there’s a period of high inflation or a recession in the works, cyclical shares tend to have to deal with customers who are no longer willing to open their wallets as widely as they might have done when times were good.

Coles doesn’t really have this problem. This company supplies life essentials like food, drinks and household goods. As such, its customers tend to keep walking through the door in good times and bad.

This means that Coles’ earnings are relatively defensive and stable. That in turn makes the Coles dividend reliable.

We can see this in action if we look back at this company’s past payouts. Since Coles was listed on the ASX in its own right back in 2018, it has always either maintained or increased its fully franked annual dividend.

Guaranteed passive income?

To illustrate, the company forked out an annual total of 35.5 cents per share in dividends back in 2019. The following year, investors were treated to 57.5 cents per share, rising to 61 cents per share in 2021. Bear in mind that this is over the worst years of the pandemic.

2022 saw Coles up its game again, forking out 63 cents per share in passive income. 2023 had the company increase this yet again to 66 cents per share.

Coles’ last two dividend payments, worth 30 cents and 36 cents respectively, give the company a trailing dividend yield of 3.84% today. No ASX share can ever be relied upon for guaranteed dividend income. But I think Coles’ track record makes it more reliable than most.

As such, I am confident that if one buys 2,000 Coles shares today, one could reasonably expect to receive at least $1,350 (a 3.84% yield) in annual passive income from this investment.

The post For a shot at $1,320 a year in passive income, buy 2,000 shares of this ASX stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Can Coles shares outperform the ASX 200 Index from here?
• 4 ASX income stocks for Aussie investors to buy now
• Buy Coles and these ASX 200 dividend stocks
• Mining, supermarkets, and property: 3 ASX 200 dividend stocks to buy
• Coles shares flat as Choice report says competitor Aldi cheapest

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Coles Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you’re in the process building a retirement portfolio, then you may be on the lookout for some ASX 200 shares to buy for it.

But you shouldn’t just buy any old share. Rather than investing in risky growth shares, retirees ought to look for shares with strong business models, positive long term outlooks, and reliable dividends.

With that in mind, which shares could be in the buy zone in July? Let’s take a look at what analysts are saying about these ASX 200 retirement shares:

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

The first ASX 200 retirement share that could be worth considering is Telstra. It is of course Australia’s largest telecommunications company.

As well as offering defensive qualities, which are important for a retirement portfolio, it offers low risk earnings and dividend growth thanks largely to its mobile business.

It is for this reason that Goldman Sachs is positive on the company. It said:

We believe the low risk earnings (and dividend) growth that Telstra is delivering across FY22-25, underpinned through its mobile business, is attractive. We also believe that Telstra has a meaningful medium term opportunity to crystallise value through commencing the process to monetize its InfraCo Fixed assets – which we estimate could be worth between A$22-33bn.

Speaking of dividend growth, Goldman Sachs is expecting fully franked dividend yields of 5% in FY 2024 and 5.1% in FY 2025.

Goldman has a buy rating and $4.25 price target on its shares.

Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW)

Another ASX 200 retirement share that could be a good option for investors is Woolworths. It is Australia’s largest Woolworths supermarket chain. In addition, it the owner of Big W and a growing pet care business.

Goldman Sachs is also feeling very positive about the company. So much so, it has Woolies on its conviction list. This is due to its dominant market position and belief that more market share gains are coming thanks to its loyalty program. The broker said:

We are Buy rated (on Conviction List) on the stock as we believe the business has among the highest consumer stickiness and loyalty among peers, and hence has strong ability to drive market share gains via its omni-channel advantage, as well as pass through any cost inflation to protect its margins, beyond market expectations.

Goldman currently has a conviction buy rating and $39.40 price target on the company’s shares. Its analysts are also forecasting fully franked dividend yields in the region of ~3% through to FY 2026.

The post 2 ASX 200 retirement shares to buy in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy Telstra shares due to its ‘excessive’ discount
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Would Warren Buffett buy Telstra shares?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• The Woolworths share price is down 16%: Time to buy the stock?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Competition for the title of most valuable company in the world is heating up. Earlier this week Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), after its monster run over the last few years, leapfrogged Microsoft and Apple to become the largest company in the world by market capitalization (market cap), the total value of all publicly traded shares of a company.

After topping its rivals, Nvidia slid back to third place, but this isn’t any reason to fret. It’s a tight race and the three are likely to be trading places for some time. The next round of earnings later this summer will be a major catalyst that could move the needle to a more stable place if any of the companies beat their own guidance and Wall Street’s expectations — or fall short.

 No investing theme is more popular right now than artificial intelligence (AI) and Nvidia is its poster child. Investors are salivating at the incredible returns the company is delivering consistently quarter after quarter — its revenue last quarter was up 260% year over year — with the promise of continued growth into the future. Its rapid ascent since AI captured the public’s attention is one for the record books. But what should investors pay attention to long term?

Understand what makes Nvidia special

Nvidia holds a unique position in the market. The company was so ahead of the curve that it was able to capture roughly 80% of the AI chipmaking business.

Of course, like most wildly successful companies, it was a matter of a little bit of luck and a lot of foresight. CEO Jensen Huang made a bet. Nvidia made chips called graphics processing units (GPUs) that were, for a large chunk of the company’s history, accessories to the all-powerful central processing unit (CPU) that made Intel what it was. He saw that the industry was reaching the limits of scaling CPU technology and that his company’s GPUs could step into the spotlight.

Turns out he was right. Without getting into too much technical detail, if you shift the focus to chips that are very like GPUs — such as the company’s Grace Blackwell “Superchip” — with CPUs running a supporting role, you can run power-hungry applications and continue to scale them up. And AI is undoubtedly power-hungry.

Nvidia doubled down on this tech before it was fashionable, so when AI exploded onto the scene, the company was already there, supplying the entire industry with its tech. Now AI servers run by the likes of Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft are powered by Nvidia chips.

Whether AI pans out — and when — is critical

Nvidia went from a relatively niche computing company, mostly servicing the video game industry, to one of the largest companies in the world. Just look at this reversal of fortunes from the once-dominant CPU maker, Intel. The chart shows revenue for both companies over the last 10 years on a trailing-12-month (TTM) basis.

NVDA Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

That is a twist of fate. But fate can be fickle. Nvidia’s future largely depends on AI delivering on its promise. Much has been made of its revolutionary power, but there is still a lot to prove. It wouldn’t be the first time a technology failed to deliver on the hype surrounding it. Still, I think there’s more reason to believe AI isn’t a fluke than some past hype cycles, so then it’s a matter of when it can deliver.

If the AI value chain is a river, Nvidia is somewhere in the middle, upstream from the companies that actually deliver AI products to the end market. If those companies have overpromised on their products’ value or can’t deliver in time, the river gets dammed up downstream, potentially leading to a glut of unwanted chips. For Nvidia to continue the incredible growth it has been experiencing, enough to justify the premium value investors have placed on it, end-user demand has to keep the river flowing freely.

Keep an eye on how well the end-user AI applications are doing. Try some out. Do you see the value? The more useful these tools are, the higher the river’s watermark and the more likely Nvidia is to deliver on its sky-high expectations.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Nvidia is no longer the most valuable company in the world. Here’s what investors need to know appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where are we in the share market cycle?
• After Nvidia’s 10-for-1 stock split, is it still a buy?
• The AI money flow: Why you can’t afford to miss stocks like Nvidia and this rising ASX 200 tech stock
• Nvidia stock drops 6.5%, dragging artificial intelligence stocks lower
• Brainchip share price tumbles 40% in the past year. What’s next?

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Intel and has recommended the following options: long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short August 2024 $35 calls on Intel, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buying ASX 200 energy shares? Here’s what to expect in FY 2025
• Why Calix, Collins Foods, Myer, and Patriot Battery Metals shares are charging higher
• Are ASX real estate shares building towards a better FY25?
• ASX 200 stock jumps 10% on strong FY24 results
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Collins Foods and Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you’re looking for an easy way to invest your hard-earned money, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be the way to do it.

That’s because ETFs allow investors to avoid stock picking and instead purchase groups of high-quality shares with a single click of the button.

This can make them a great way to grow your wealth with minimal effort.

But which ETFs could be top options for investors at present? Listed below are five top ETFs that could be great options:

BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ASX ETF for investors to consider buying is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. It provides investors with access to the largest technology companies in Asia (excluding Japan). Among the tigers that you will be buying a slice of are giants such as Alibaba, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Tencent Holdings.

BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

A second ASX ETF to look at is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. It offers investors access to a global cybersecurity sector that is predicted to grow materially over the next decade due to the rising threat of cybercrime. In fact, Betashares highlights that “an estimate of the total addressable market by McKinsey suggests that the cybersecurity market is $1.5-$2.0 trillion globally, and at best only 10% penetrated with a very long runway for growth.” It also notes that “during the period 2024-2028, cybersecurity revenue is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10.6%, resulting in a total market size of $273.6 billion by 2028.”

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

A third ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF. It could be a good option for investors and was recommended by the fund manager’s chief economist, David Bassanese, last year. This ETF is focused on approximately 150 global companies that rank highly on four quality metrics. This essentially means that you are buying a slice of the very best companies that money can buy.

BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

Another ASX ETF that gives you access to some of the best companies in the world is the hugely popular BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF. This fund is home to the 100 largest (non-financial) shares on the famous NASDAQ index on Wall Street. This is where you’ll find all the big tech giants and household names such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Finally, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF could be a great option for Aussie investors. This popular fund allows investors to buy a slice of ~1,500 of the world’s largest listed companies with a click of the button. This could make it a great way to diversify your portfolio with minimal fuss.

The post 5 excellent ASX ETFs to grow your wealth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 top ASX ETFs that offer excellent diversification
• 4 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold for a decade
• Want to buy Nvidia but don’t have a US share account? Buy these ETFs instead
• ‘Unique and defensive’: Why this ASX tech ETF is a buy
• Why these 5 ASX ETFs could be quality options for investors

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, JD.com, Microsoft, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf, JD.com, Nvidia, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

As well as being able to invest in companies like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), the Australian share market also allows you to invest in the property market.

This is achieved through real estate investment trusts (REIT), which are companies that own and operate property assets. They also usually offer investors a nice source of passive income in the form of dividends.

Two Australian REITS that have been rated as buys recently are listed below. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW)

The first Australian REIT to look at is the Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT. It invests in the companies with exposure to the healthcare and wellness markets.

Bell Potter is very positive on the company, noting that it has an addressable market worth $218 billion. This gives it plenty of growth opportunities over the next decade and beyond:

HCW has underperformed the REIT sector last 3 months (-10% vs. +22% XPJ) following bond yield reversion and is attractively priced at 20% discount to NTA (but only REIT to record flat to positive valuation movement at 1H24) with double digit 3 year EPS CAGR given high relative sector debt hedging and ability to grow its $1bn development pipeline via attractive YoC spread to marginal cost of debt. Longer term, HCW has significant scope for growth with an estimated $218 billion addressable market where an ageing and growing population should underpin long-term sector demand.

As for dividends, Bell Potter is forecasting dividends per share of 8 cents in FY 2024 and then 8.3 cents in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $1.13, this would mean yields of 7.1% and 7.3%, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $1.50 price target on its shares.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

Analysts at Morgans think that this daily needs focused property company could be an Australian REIT to buy.

It feels that the company is well-placed to benefit from the click and collect trend. It said:

HDN’s $4.7bn portfolio is focused on daily needs assets (Large Format Retail; Neighbourhood; and Health & Services) across +50 properties with the top 3 tenants Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths. 70% of leases are fixed; 21% linked to CPI; and 9% based on supermarket turnover. The portfolio has resilient cashflows and continues to be a beneficiary of accelerating click & collect trends. +80% of tenants are national and ~75% of tenants offer click & collect reinforcing the importance of assets being able to support ‘last mile logistics’. Sites are also in strategic locations with strong population growth (+80% metro). HDN offers an attractive distribution yield and the development pipeline provides growth opportunities.

In respect to income, the broker is forecasting dividends per share of 8 cents in FY 2024 and then 9 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current HomeCo Daily Needs share price of $1.23, this will mean yields of 6.5% and 7.3%, respectively.

Morgans has an add rating and $1.37 price target on its shares.

The post The best Australian REITs to invest in this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy these ASX income shares next week
• 9 popular ASX REITs with ex-dividend dates next week
• 2 ASX dividend shares offering over 5% yield
• Are ASX REITs a good investment right now?
• Analysts name 3 high yield ASX dividend stocks to buy

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Coles Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.