Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are one of my favourite ways to add exposure to areas of the market that can be difficult to capture with individual ASX shares.

If I were putting fresh money to work this September, these three Betashares ETFs would be high on my list.

Betashares S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (ASX: QUS)

The QUS ETF gives investors exposure to 500 leading US companies with an important difference from a traditional S&P 500 fund.

Each company receives an equal weighting when the index is rebalanced quarterly. That means the portfolio is less dependent on a small group of enormous technology companies driving returns.

I like that approach at the moment. The US share market offers exposure to an enormous range of world-class businesses across healthcare, industrials, financial services, consumer goods, technology, and plenty of other industries.

Giving those companies a more equal influence means investors can participate if US market growth becomes more evenly spread.

It also gives me a different way to invest in the United States without once again making the largest technology names the centre of the portfolio.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

India is another market I would be interested in owning for the long term.

The Betashares India Quality ETF provides easy exposure to 30 Indian stocks selected using measures including profitability, leverage, and earnings stability.

I like the quality screen here. India offers a substantial long-term growth opportunity, but investing in an emerging market can bring additional risks. Focusing on financially stronger businesses gives me a more selective way to participate.

The country’s large population and developing economy create opportunities across areas such as banking, consumer spending, technology, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

I would expect plenty of volatility along the way, but I think India could become an increasingly important part of global share markets over the coming decades.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

Closer to home, the AQLT ETF provides another way to approach Australian shares.

The fund targets high-quality ASX companies using return on equity, leverage, and earnings stability. Its index is designed to hold around 40 businesses rather than simply allocating the most money to the largest companies on the market.

I like that because the Australian share market can become heavily influenced by its biggest companies and sectors.

A quality-focused strategy can lead to a different portfolio, with Betashares noting that the fund has historically had greater exposure to areas such as consumer discretionary and less exposure to materials than the broader Australian market.

For a long-term holding, I think prioritising strong profitability, manageable debt, and steadier earnings is a sensible approach.

Foolish takeaway

I would happily consider all three ETFs this September.

What I like most is that they give me ways to invest beyond the most obvious market exposures. I can broaden my US holdings, participate in India’s long-term development, and take a more selective approach to Australian shares.

For investors prepared to hold through the inevitable ups and downs, I think each could have a place in a long-term portfolio.

The post Why I’d buy these Betashares ETFs in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 strong ASX ETFs I’d buy to try and beat the market
• 3 super ASX ETFs for beginner investors
• 3 Betashares ETFs I’d buy and hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

As investors look to gain portfolio exposure to the AI buildout, there are several ASX ETFs on the market to consider. 

While past performance doesn’t guarantee future gains, it can be helpful to look at projections when comparing options. 

Three of the most notable AI ASX ETFs include: 

• Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)
• Global X Ai Infrastructure ETF (ASX: AINF)
• Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI). 

How are these funds different?

While all of these funds offer AI exposure, they are built in different ways. 

Firstly, Global X Semiconductor fund focuses on the semiconductor industry.

These are the chips and hardware that power AI systems, including companies involved in chip design, manufacturing and equipment. 

Secondly, the Global X AI Infrastructure ETF takes a broader “picks-and-shovels” approach to AI, investing in companies that provide the infrastructure needed to develop and run AI. This includes data centres, networking, power and semiconductors. 

Finally, the Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF is the most directly focused on AI applications and technology, investing in companies developing or benefiting from AI software, automation, machine learning and related technologies. 

In simple terms, SEMI is primarily about the chips, AINF is about the infrastructure that enables AI, and GXAI is about the broader AI ecosystem and its applications.

Which fund has performed the best?

The SEMI fund was first listed back in 2021, with GXAI listing in 2024 and AINF most recently in April 2025. 

Since April 2025 when all funds were available: 

• AINF is up 67%
• GXAI is up 43%
• SEMI is up 140%. 

Looking at the last 12 months: 

• SEMI is up 98%
• AINF is up 34%
• GXAI is up 22%

How much could $10,000 be worth in 12 months’ time?

Taking these results over the last year and projecting the same returns for the next 12 months, a $10,000 investment could be extremely profitable. 

Using the 12-month returns you provided and assuming, purely as a mathematical projection, that each fund repeats the same return over the next year:

• SEMI: A 98% return would turn $10,000 into $19,800 – a $9,800 gain.
• AINF: A 34% return would turn $10,000 into $13,400 – $3,400 gain.
• GXAI: A 22% return would turn $10,000 into $12,200 – a $2,200 gain.

So, if those past 12-month returns were repeated exactly, SEMI would produce the largest projected result at $19,800, followed by AINF at $13,400 and GXAI at $12,200. 

However, these are hypothetical projections rather than forecasts, and past performance does not reliably indicate future returns. 

The post How much could $10,000 invested in these AI focussed ETFs be worth in a year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 fantastic ASX ETFs for Aussie investors in September
• Want to invest in AI shares? Here’s how to do it on the ASX
• Why these ASX ETFs are on my watchlist
• 3 super ASX ETFs for beginner investors
• Down 21% in six weeks, what’s happened to SEMI ETF?

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 blue-chip shares can be some of the most appealing options for dividends because of the stability and sizeable dividend yield they can provide.

But there are more blue-chips available to Australians than just the biggest names, such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL).

I think there are a few names out there that can provide a more appealing combination of dividend yield and growth than the most popular stocks like CBA and BHP, like the two below.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

This first ASX share is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that’s invested in an array of different types of commercial property, including government entities (such as Geoscience Australia), telecommunication exchanges, data centres, service stations, hotels/pubs and others.

No other ASX REIT can provide investors with that much diversification under a single investment.

By investing in so many areas, it can protect investors from being too invested in one particular area, while many other REITs are focused on shopping centres, office buildings, or other areas.

One of the main attractions of this ASX blue-chip share is that it has a very long weighted average lease expiry (WALE), meaning the rental income is locked in for a long time. Currently, the REIT has a WALE of around nine years, which is a long time for the sector.

Additionally, that income is regularly growing thanks to rental escalation built into the rental contracts. Some of the portfolio has fixed annual indexation, while the rest of the portfolio has inflation-linked rental increases. This helps support and grow distributions.

It plans to pay a distribution of 25.5 cents per unit in FY27, equating to a distribution yield of 7.4%. That’s a great starting yield, in my view.

Australian United Investment Company Ltd (ASX: AUI)

The other ASX blue-chip I want to highlight is this listed investment company (LIC) which was founded in 1953. So, it has already been going for more than 70 years.

It aims to provide investors with exposure to a quality portfolio of ASX shares, as well as an international investment portfolio, held mainly through international-focused funds.

The goal is to provide shareholders with a portfolio that can provide income and capital appreciation over the medium-to-long-term.

Currently, its biggest positions include CBA, BHP, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL).

It’s also invested in multiple Vanguard funds that give it exposure to the global share market, which I think is a useful factor.

With an annual management expense ratio (MER) of just 0.10%, which I’d describe as one of the cheapest ASX share investment portfolios on the ASX.

The ASX blue-chip share has steadily grown its dividend payout over the long-term and maintained the dividend when it hasn’t hiked the payout.

It has paid an annual dividend per share of 45 cents in recent financial years, which translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.3%, including franking credits.

The post 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need to retire on $80,000 a year at 50?
• 1 ASX dividend stock down 35% I’d buy right now
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $60,000 annual passive income?
• 3 strong ASX dividend shares with yields up to 7.7%
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,500 monthly passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Transurban Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.