QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) shares could be in the buy zone following its quarterly update.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, which have just upgraded the insurance giant’s shares.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter was relatively pleased with the company’s quarterly update, noting that management has reaffirmed its guidance for a combined operating ratio (COR) of 92.5%. It said:

The Q3 update was benign and much as we expected. The company continues to expect an attractive COR of 92.5% for FY25, and this expected to continue into FY26. Gross Written Premium rose to $18.6bn an increase of 6% at the headline, and excluding rate increases this is 5% underlying, or 6% excluding the $250m of US noncore run-off and crop rates.

Rate increases continue to be weak around ~1.5% in the 9m, or around 4% excluding property. This compares with 2% at the HY. The company did not disclose rating trends by geography and quarter as it has done in previous years. Using a weighted average of Q1, Q2 and Q3, we estimate group renewal rates would have been around -1% year-on-year in Q3.

Three reasons to buy QBE shares

Bell Potter has upgraded QBE’s shares to a buy rating for three key reasons.

These include capital returns, management confidence in its COR outlook, and its fair valuation. It explains:

We move our recommendation to buy on three improvements. 1/ The return of capital to shareholders, which switches the capital equation from retaining capital for growth, to writing for profit and RoCE. 2/ Management remains confident about writing at a 92.5% CoR in FY26, seeing options to maintain profitability. 3/ The valuation is much less stretched, with the shares at 1.5x FY26 NAV with an RoE of 15.5%. The share price is now in buying territory. We increase our assumptions, improving the COR ratio by 66bps in FY25, and 86bps in FY26. Our forecast EPS increases by 4.1% for FY25, 6.6% for FY26, and 0.5% for FY27.

According to the note, the broker has put a buy rating (from hold) and $21.80 (from $21.20) price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $19.25, this implies potential upside of 13% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, Bell Potter is expecting a 4.8% dividend yield over the period, which boosts the total potential return to almost 18%.

The post 3 reasons to buy QBE shares in December appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Are QBE shares a buy for passive income in 2026?
• What’s the upside for QBE shares after a rocky 2 months?

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 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.

ASX 200 tech shares may have finally found their floor after a dramatic 22.5% tumble for the sector over the past 10 weeks.

Technology led the 11 market sectors last week with a 5.96% gain over the five trading days.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was also buoyant, rising 2.35% to close at 8,614.1 points on Friday.

Ten of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

Let’s review.

ASX tech shares led the market last week

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) went into a downward spiral after reaching a new record on 19 September.

The tech index closed at 2,370 points on Friday, representing a 22.5% fall over 10 weeks.

Concerns over US tech stock valuations and whether artificial intelligence (AI) is creating a market bubble explain only part of the story.

Wilsons Advisory equity strategist Greg Burke says domestic factors are mostly to blame for the sell-off in ASX 200 tech shares.

High valuations and a sell-off in Aussie bonds amid virtually no chance of another interest rate cut this year have also played a role.

Here’s how the biggest ASX 200 tech companies performed last week, and how much their share prices have fallen since 19 September.

5 biggest tech stocks down 20% (or more) since September

The WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price ripped 11.04% higher to close at $73.02 on Friday.

The largest tech company on the market has lost almost a quarter of its market capitalisation since the sector’s peak on 19 September.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price lifted to $122.25, up 2.54% last week and down 25% since the tech sector’s high.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares rose 1.93% last week to $30.10. That represents a 21.5% fall since 19 September.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares edged 0.44% higher to $13.57 last week, down 24% since the tech sector’s peak.

The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price finished the week at $40.43, up 10.74% for the week and down 22% since 19 September.

The Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) share price rose to $30.85, up 7.53% last week and up 2.93% since the sector’s high.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares soared 12.69% to $14.30 last week. The stock has slipped by less than 5% since the peak.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 tech shares fight back after 10 weeks of decline appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Life360, Megaport, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

For investors focused on the long-term, there are a handful of ASX growth shares today that have the potential to become significantly larger businesses by 2035.

But which ones could be buys today?

Here are three that analysts think stand out as future giants in the making:

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Life360 has transformed from a family-tracking app into a high-growth global subscription platform. Its growth metrics remain exceptional: paying circles are rising sharply, monthly active users continue climbing past 90 million, and the company is generating growing profitability alongside strong operating cash flow.

What makes Life360 particularly compelling is its enormous addressable market. The company’s platform naturally lends itself to premium features such as safety tools, roadside assistance, data services, and partnerships. And with less than a fraction of its global user base currently monetised, the runway ahead is long. It is also only at the beginning of monetising its free users through its new advertising business.

Bell Potter is bullish on the company’s outlook. So much so, it recently put a buy rating and $52.50 price target on its shares.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Another ASX growth share that could be destined for big things is NextDC.

It is a leading data centre operator that is building the infrastructure powering Australia’s digital economy. Demand for cloud computing, AI, data processing and storage is surging, and NextDC sits at the centre of it.

The company continues to expand its high-capacity data centre footprint across major Australian cities, while securing long-term contracts with hyperscale cloud providers and enterprise customers. This gives NextDC recurring, inflation-linked revenue, strong retention rates and visibility well into future years.

Data usage isn’t slowing. If anything, AI models, automation and high-bandwidth applications are accelerating the need for secure, energy-efficient data storage. Few ASX businesses are as well-positioned for this infrastructure megatrend as NextDC.

UBS is a fan of NextDC and has a buy rating and $21.45 price target on its shares.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Finally, Temple & Webster has quietly become Australia’s leading online furniture and homewares retailer. While the broader retail sector has faced pressure from cautious consumer spending, Temple & Webster continues taking market share thanks to its digital-first model, growing private-label range and efficient logistics network.

In Australia, online furniture penetration lags behind that in the US and Europe. This gives Temple & Webster a multi-year growth opportunity as more consumers shift to online shopping for big-ticket items. In light of this, the company could be many times larger in 2035 than it is today.

Last week, Morgan Stanley put an overweight rating and $28.00 price target on its shares.

The post 3 ASX growth shares that could be future giants appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 tech shares fight back after 10 weeks of decline
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, Nextdc, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ASX dividend stock Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) has seen a 28% decline (at the time of writing) since 7 August 2025. There are not many compelling ASX dividend shares that have fallen as much as that in the last few months.

I think it’s exciting when a dividend-paying business falls. We’re able to buy them at a lower price, but the dividend yield on offer also increases.

For example, if a business had a dividend yield of 4% and the share price drops 10% then the yield becomes 4.4%. A 20% decline would result in a dividend yield of 4.8% for prospective investors.

If you haven’t heard of Pinnacle before – it’s an investment business that takes stakes in impressive funds management businesses (affiliates) and helps them grow. It assists their growth with numerous behind-the-scenes services (such as fund administration, compliance, legal, and so on), allowing the fund manager to focus on just investing – the most important part for clients.

Following a 28% decline in the share price, the Pinnacle dividend yield has materially increased. That’s the first appealing aspect of the business I want to highlight.

Good dividend yield

For an ASX dividend stock to be worthwhile for an income investor, I think it needs to have a solid starting yield.

The latest annual dividend per share from the business was 60 cents in FY25. At the current Pinnacle share price, this translates into a cash dividend yield of 3.3% and a grossed-up dividend yield of nearly 4.5%, including franking credits.

While that’s not the biggest dividend yield around, it’s comparable with some of the best term deposit rates out there right now for Australians.

But, Pinnacle isn’t a term deposit – it has growth potential.

Consistent ASX dividend stock

There are plenty of high-profile businesses that have cut their dividends in the last several years. But not Pinnacle.

Between FY16 and FY25, there was only one year in which the dividend didn’t increase. The company maintained its payout in FY20 when there was a huge amount of COVID uncertainty affecting economies and share markets.

Pleasingly, the business is projected to continue growing its payout in the coming financial years.

According to the projection on CMC Markets, the company is forecast to increase its FY26 payout to 66.5 cents per share and then to 81 cents per share in FY27. Including franking credits, those estimations translate into potential grossed-up dividend yields of 5% and 6.3%, respectively.

Earnings growth potential

One of the main reasons I’m attracted to this business and have recently invested in it is the quality and growth of its funds under management (FUM).

The affiliates largely have a long-term track record of outperforming their benchmarks, which is a powerful tool for growing FUM organically and attracting further inflows of money from clients.

In the three months to September 2025, affiliate FUM increased by a further $18 billion, or 10%, to $197.4 billion. This was helped by net inflows of $13.3 billion. FUM growth is a key driver of Pinnacle’s earnings, so this bodes well for at least FY26 if not beyond.

The ASX dividend stock is currently trading at around 20x FY27’s estimated earnings, according to the forecast on CMC Markets.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 28% I’d buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are searching for passive income in this low interest rate environment, then look no further than the ASX dividend stock in this article.

That’s because it has one of the most generous dividend yields around and has been tipped to rise materially from current levels.

Which ASX dividend stock?

The stock that could be a great pick for passive income is GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG).

GQG Partners is a boutique investment management company that manages global and emerging market equity portfolios for institutions, advisors, and individuals worldwide.

It is a majority employee-owned company that is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with offices around the world.

The company notes that it “strives for excellence at all levels within the organization through a commitment to independent thinking, continual growth, cultural integrity, and a deep knowledge of the markets.”

The strategy the investment management company uses is called Forward Looking Quality. It notes that this concept ignores the traditional investment constraints associated with growth and value and instead focuses on investing in companies that it believes are going to be successful over the next five years and beyond.

At the last count, it reported that it had US$163.7 billion of assets under management (AUM).

Undervalued

The team at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) thinks the ASX dividend stock is undervalued at current levels.

A recent note reveals that the broker has an outperform rating and $2.50 price target on its shares.

Based on its current share price of $1.85, this implies potential upside of 35% for investors over the next 12 months.

To put that into context, a $10,000 investment would turn into approximately $13,500 by this time next year if Macquarie is on the money with its recommendation.

But the returns won’t stop there!

What about passive income?

GQG Partners is being tipped to provide investors with some very big dividend yields in the near term.

According to Macquarie’s note, it expects the ASX dividend stock to reward its shareholders with the equivalent of 22.6 Australian cents per share in FY 2025 and then 22.9 Australian cents per share in FY 2026.

This means that if you were to buy its shares at current prices, you would be looking at dividend yields of 12.2% and 12.4%, respectively.

This equates to passive income of $1,220 and $1,240, respectively, from a $10,000 investment in GQG Partners’ shares.

The post Invest $10,000 in this ASX dividend stock for $1,200 in passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Gqg Partners. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Gqg Partners. 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.

This is part three of a seven-article series in which I rank the best Magnificent Seven stocks to buy for 2026 (in reverse order). Tesla came in last place, followed by Apple in the sixth spot — as both stocks are not worth buying right now.

Amazon marks a turning point. Although it’s my fifth pick, I would categorize Amazon as a decent, but not a high-conviction buy for 2026. Here’s why.

AWS or bust

Amazon soared after its latest earnings report, as its cloud computing services segment — Amazon Web Services (AWS) — delivered impeccable results. This was a sigh of relief, as AWS had been growing slower than peers like Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Amazon began by selling books online and eventually became the world’s largest online retailer. But today, AWS is the company’s crown jewel. The segment continues to drive Amazon’s cash flow and overall profitability, making up for what can be lackluster results in its other segments.

Amazon’s dependence on AWS is a key reason why the stock isn’t higher on my list. While AWS is more valuable than any other cloud service, Amazon as a whole is less balanced than Microsoft and Alphabet.

If cloud computing growth slows, Microsoft can rely on its highly profitable software business, growing gaming portfolio, and other strengths. Microsoft is monetizing AI across its business segments, driving sustainable, high-margin growth.

Similarly, Alphabet’s Google Search is its centerpiece, but the company is rapidly expanding its Gemini AI assistant app. Despite rival AI-first information resources like ChatGPT, Google Search continues to grow at a solid rate — fueled by embedding AI overviews powered by Gemini into Google Search queries. Aside from Google Cloud and Google Search — YouTube, Android, and Google Other Bets, which include Waymo and Google Quantum AI — round out Alphabet as a balanced, yet high-octane growth stock.

Amazon loves spending money

Another factor that sets Amazon apart from the other Magnificent Seven stocks is its lack of stock buybacks and dividend payments. Amazon hasn’t repurchased stock for years. And because it rewards many employees with hefty stock-based compensation packages, Amazon’s share count has increased over time, diluting existing shareholders.

By comparison, Apple spends a boatload of cash on buybacks, and Microsoft also actively repurchases stock and pays more dividends than any other U.S. company.

Meta Platforms and Alphabet have been ramping up their buyback programs in recent years and instituted their first-ever dividends last year. And even Nvidia is now buying back significantly more stock than it issues in stock-based compensation, making the stock a better value.

Pouring excess cash back into the business instead of repurchasing stock can accelerate earnings growth. But the strategy is aggressive and risky. Because if Amazon fails to deliver or AWS loses market share, investors will question the capital allocation strategy.

Amazon is an OK buy for 2026

Amazon is a decent buy on the strength of AWS alone. But it’s not as compelling as Nvidia, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, or Alphabet.

Find out how I rank those four Magnificent Seven names in my upcoming rankings.

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

The post Ranking the best “Magnificent Seven” stocks to buy for 2026. Here’s my No. 5 pick. appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

More reading

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Daniel Foelber has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. 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 recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Not a fan of stock picking but want to put money into the market in December? There’s a way!

Rather than trying to pick individual winners, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer an easy, low-stress way to spread risk while still tapping into some of the most powerful investment themes of the decade.

If you are putting $10,000 to work this December, here are three ASX ETFs to look at very closely:

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

For broad-based, dependable growth, it is hard to beat the iShares S&P 500 ETF. It tracks the S&P 500 index, giving investors exposure to the biggest and strongest companies in the United States.

Its top holdings include Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY). These are three giants that weren’t in the spotlight a decade ago but have become major drivers of index returns. Alongside them sit the familiar megacap tech leaders that have powered US markets for years.

For long-term investors, this fund remains one of the simplest and most effective core holdings available on the ASX.

Betashares Cloud Computing ETF (ASX: CLDD)

Cloud computing is still in the early stages of a decades-long growth curve, and the Betashares Cloud Computing ETF gives investors targeted exposure to companies that are building the digital backbone of the modern world.

Its holdings include Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW), ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), and Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP). All three play critical roles in cloud storage, workflow software, and online shopping.

A holding worth spotlighting is ServiceNow. Its digital workflow and automation platform has become essential for large organisations managing complex operations across multiple systems.

With cloud adoption still gaining momentum across industries and governments, this fund offers investors a direct line into a megatrend with significant growth potential. It is no wonder then that Betashares’ analysts recently recommended this fund.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF targets one of the most powerful megatrends of this generation: automation and AI.

It holds global leaders such as Keyence Corporation (FRA: KEE), Fanuc (FRA: FUC) and ABB Ltd (SWX: ABBN). These are companies building the robots, sensors, and industrial intelligence systems driving the next wave of productivity.

Fanuc is worth spotlighting. It has been a world leader in industrial robotics for decades and continues to dominate in manufacturing automation. With factories worldwide racing to modernise, Fanuc sits at the heart of a long-term global investment cycle that shows no signs of slowing.

Overall, the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF gives investors a smart, diversified way to harness the rise of automation without betting on a single company. This fund was also recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post Where to invest $10,000 in ASX ETFs this December appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Abb, Berkshire Hathaway, Shopify, Snowflake, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom and Fanuc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway, Shopify, 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.

It was another busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts retained their buy rating on this defence company’s shares with a reduced price target of $8.10. This followed the completion of the acquisition of the MARSS Group’s drone interceptor business for $10 million last week. Bell Potter notes that interceptor drones are an emerging hard-kill counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) technology that is expected to grow in demand in the coming years. Although it will be 12 to 24 months until EOS has developed a commercial product, Bell Potter thinks it will be worth the wait. It is estimating that interceptor revenue will come in at $6 million in 2027 then consistently grow in the double digits in the years that follow. In addition, it once again highlights that EOS is positioned as a market leader in C-UAS solutions and is leveraged to increasing budget allocations to C-UAS technologies. The EOS share price ended the week at $4.55.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

A note out of Morgans revealed that its analysts upgraded this fashion jewellery retailer’s shares to a buy rating with a trimmed price target of $40.00. This followed the release of a trading update from Lovisa for the first 20 weeks of FY 2026. Morgans notes that the company’s sales and store growth have slowed over the past three months. However, given that Lovisa is still growing sales at 20%+, which is impressive given the challenging retail trading conditions, it remains very positive. Especially with the recent pullback in its share price, which Morgans thinks has created an opportunity to buy a high quality retailer with a global store rollout strategy. It also highlights that its shares are trading back around their average 10-year forward earnings multiple despite offering ~20% earnings per share compound annual growth over the next 3 years. The Lovisa share price was fetching $32.13 at Friday’s close.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Another note out of Bell Potter revealed that its analysts retained their buy rating on this logistics solutions software provider’s shares with a trimmed price target of $100.00. The broker was pleased to see management reiterate its FY 2026 guidance at its annual general meeting this month. It believes this was the first hurdle cleared by management and is now looking forward to its investor day event next week. Bell Potter is expecting an update on its new commercial model and the launch of its Container Transport Optimisation (CTO) offering. The WiseTech Global share price ended the week at $73.02.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why today’s cheap ASX shares could double my money during the next bull market
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• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• What’s driving the dramatic drop in ASX 200 tech shares?
• Why HMC Capital, Select Harvests, Web Travel, and WiseTech shares are pushing higher today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Lovisa and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems, Lovisa, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are few ways to get as cheap exposure to the ASX share market as the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS). What’s not to love about a low management fee and plenty of diversification?

Impressively, the VAS ETF has an annual cost of 0.07% per year, which is very close to zero. Investors can hold this fund and be charged very little, while plenty of fund managers may charge 1% or more of the net assets of the fund. That’s pleasing for net returns.

Another strength of the investment is the number of holdings it has. The fund tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), which is an index of 300 of the biggest businesses on the ASX. That certainly helps diversification.

How much of an investor’s portfolio should the VAS ETF comprise?

There isn’t a ‘right’ answer of course – it depends on what an investor is looking for.

For an investor wanting a passive investment that can provide a solid dividend yield, this ASX ETF certainly ticks the box and could play a key role. At the end of October 2025, it had a dividend yield of 3.1% (with franking credits being a bonus on top of that).

But I think we’d be missing out on other appealing investments if the VAS ETF were to be 100% of our portfolio.

Some of the most respected and diversified investment options in Australia have a minority weighting in ASX shares.

For example, the Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG) is invested in a variety of assets, including ASX shares, international shares, emerging market shares, and bonds. The VDHG ETF has a target allocation of 36% to Australian shares.

Meanwhile, AustralianSuper’s ‘high growth’ investment option has a current allocation of 32.2% to Australian shares.

So, for Australian-based, diversified juggernauts, they have around a third of their portfolios invested in Australian shares. I think that’s a very reasonable allocation for Australians who are considering the VAS ETF.

However, we should keep in mind that the ASX accounts for only around 2% of the global share market; we shouldn’t ignore the excellent opportunities overseas.  

My own portfolio

Currently, none of my portfolio is invested in the VAS ETF for two key reasons.

Firstly, the fund is heavily weighted to the largest ASX blue-chip shares – around 45% of the portfolio is invested in the biggest ten positions. That makes the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF seem a bit less appealing on the diversification side of things than at first glance.

I also believe that there are plenty of investments on the ASX that can grow faster than the VAS ETF, which is why I allocate money to the best opportunities I can see every chance I get.

The post How much of my portfolio should Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) be? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 5 ASX ETFs to buy with $10,000 in December

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.