If you are lucky enough to have $2,500 to invest this month, but you’re not a fan of stock picking, then don’t worry.

That’s because exchange traded funds (ETFs) can make the job much simpler by allowing you to buy groups of shares in one fell swoop.

With that in mind, let’s look at three ASX ETFs that could be worth getting better acquainted with right now. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF.

Instead of just buying only the biggest Australian stocks, the Betashares Australian Quality ETF invests in Australian shares that score highly on measures of quality.

That means it favours businesses with characteristics such as strong profitability, healthy balance sheets, and more reliable earnings. This includes CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

For investors who want Australian shares but would prefer a tilt towards stronger businesses, this ETF could be a good option.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

Another ASX ETF to consider is the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF.

It applies a similar idea internationally. It invests in stocks from developed markets that demonstrate strong profitability, low financial leverage, and relatively stable earnings.

This provides Australian investors with access to leading businesses from overseas while applying a quality filter before they make it into the portfolio.

I like that approach for long-term investing. Great businesses often have the financial strength to keep investing through difficult periods, take opportunities when competitors are struggling, and continue growing over many years.

The VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF also gives investors exposure to industries and companies that are difficult to access through the Australian market alone.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

A final ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

This is the more growth-focused option of the three.

The fund invests in major Asian technology companies across areas such as semiconductors, ecommerce, online platforms, gaming, hardware, and other digital businesses.

Asia is home to some of the world’s most important technology companies, as well as enormous consumer markets that are continuing to adopt digital services.

This gives the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF exposure to both the infrastructure behind modern technology and the companies serving consumers across the region.

It can be volatile, particularly when sentiment towards Asian markets changes. But for investors with a long-term view, the growth opportunity across Asian technology remains significant.

The post Where to invest $2,500 in ASX ETFs now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX ETFs to buy and hold forever
• 3 very exciting ASX ETFs for investors to watch
• Why I’d buy these Betashares ETFs in September
• Why these ASX ETFs could be strong long-term picks
• 3 fantastic ASX ETFs for Aussie investors in September

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf and CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) share price is in focus after releasing its August 2026 traffic update, showing groupwide average daily traffic (ADT) growth of 3.4% compared to last year, with particularly strong results in North America and continued momentum in Sydney and Melbourne.

What did Transurban Group report?

• Group average daily traffic (ADT) rose 3.4% year on year in August 2026
• Sydney ADT up 3.3%, supported by robust 11.8% growth on the M7 following the M7-M12 Integration Project
• Melbourne ADT increased 3.5%, boosted by West Gate Tunnel’s contribution; excluding WGT, Melbourne traffic fell 0.8%
• Brisbane traffic improved by 1.0%, led by large vehicle growth of 3.7%
• North America traffic surged 12.3%, with the 495 Express Lanes up 26.1% and average dynamic toll prices rising significantly

What else do investors need to know?

Transurban highlighted that, excluding the West Gate Tunnel in Melbourne, total group traffic increased at a slower pace of 1.9%. The M7-M12 Integration in Sydney and the opening of the 495 Northern Extension in North America both drove significant local gains.

The company recently completed the divestment of the A25 toll road in June 2026, so July and August North American figures now reflect only the 95 and 495 Express Lanes. Transurban also noted its defensive revenue profile, with over 90% of group revenue linked to inflation or fixed price escalators, offsetting some macroeconomic risks.

What’s next for Transurban Group?

Transurban will continue providing monthly traffic data through the rest of 2026, closely watching the shifting geopolitical and economic conditions. Management reaffirmed a focus on disciplined balance sheet management and operational efficiency to support customer value.

The group says its portfolio resilience is underpinned by the essential nature of its roads, with inflation-linked revenue streams generally flowing through with a lag. Investors will be watching for further updates on traffic performance as well as any impacts from international energy markets and macroeconomic policy.

Transurban Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Transurban shares have declined 7%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Transurban posts 3.4% August traffic growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $1,000 passive income per week?
• How to make $26,000 of passive income from ASX shares
• My top ASX passive income stocks for the next 10 years
• Why I’d rather buy growing dividends than chase the highest ASX yields
• Top 3 ASX dividend shares to buy if interest rates go up

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban 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 prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Newmont Corp vs Northern Star Resources shares

Are you weighing up Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) vs Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares? Both are major names in gold, but they’re quite different in scale, yield, valuation, and market performance. Let’s break down the fundamentals and see which might shine brighter for investors, especially those looking for strong dividends and competitive P/E ratios.

The case for Newmont Corp

Newmont Corp is the largest gold miner in the world, operating across the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea. After acquiring Australian miner Newcrest Mining in 2023, Newmont gained assets like Boddington, Cadia, Tanami, and Telfer, adding further depth to their mineral portfolio. Besides gold, Newmont also produces copper, silver, zinc, and lead.

A few things jump out about Newmont:

• It has a massive market cap of $179.37 billion, making it a goliath in the sector.
• Its P/E ratio is 15.88, lower than Northern Star’s, so you’re paying less per dollar of earnings.
• The dividend yield is 0.85%, which is relatively modest for a miner.
• Dividends are unfranked, so there’s no extra tax benefit for Australian shareholders.
• Year to date, Newmont shares have returned a solid 17.64%.

The case for Northern Star Resources

Northern Star Resources is a leading Australian gold producer with a global reach. Its flagship operations are in Western Australia’s Kalgoorlie and Yandal projects, as well as Alaska’s Pogo goldfields. Northern Star is known for its strategic acquisitions and commitment to ongoing exploration.

Some key facts about Northern Star:

• Market cap sits at $31.40 billion—a sizeable company, but much smaller than Newmont.
• P/E ratio is 19.56, higher than Newmont, which could suggest a more fully valued share.
• Dividend yield stands at 2.43%, nearly three times higher than Newmont.
• Importantly, its most recent dividends have been 100% franked, offering a big plus for Aussie tax residents.
• However, year-to-date return is -13.28%, showing recent underperformance.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the numbers stack up between these two gold giants:

Metric	Newmont Corp (NEM)	Northern Star (NST)
Market Cap	$179.37 billion	$31.40 billion
P/E Ratio	15.88	19.56
Dividend Yield	0.85% (Unfranked)	2.43% (100% Franked)
Year to Date Return	17.64%	-13.28%
Earnings Per Share (EPS)	7.930	1.157

Newmont boasts a lower P/E, higher earnings per share, and stronger recent performance, while Northern Star offers a higher, fully franked dividend yield. Newmont’s size dwarfs Northern Star’s.

Recent share price performance

Share price figures as of 15 September 2026 show Newmont closed at $170.69, dropping 2.8% that session but still up 17.64% YTD. Northern Star finished at $22.04, down 2.61% on the day and showing a negative year-to-date return of -13.28%. Looking through recent weeks, Newmont has shown more resilience, while Northern Star has faced consistent pressure.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to choose between Newmont and Northern Star today, I’d lean toward Newmont. Here’s why: Newmont is trading at a lower P/E ratio—making it look better value—and it’s delivered a strong positive return this year. While its dividend yield is lower and those dividends are unfranked, the company’s massive scale, higher earnings per share, and positive momentum give me more confidence right now. Northern Star’s higher, fully franked yield is tempting, especially for income-seeking Australians, but with its higher valuation and recent negative performance, I’m not convinced the risk is worth the reward at this stage.

The post Newmont vs Northern Star: Which gold share is better for value and yield? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.