If you want to make some investments but aren’t a fan of stock picking, then it could be worth considering exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

That’s because they allow investors to buy a large collection of shares through a single investment. This makes it an easy way to diversify a portfolio.

But which ASX ETFs could be great options for investors in July? Let’s take a look at three:

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF

Analysts at Betashares recently named it as one to consider. They highlight that companies that generate high levels of free cash flow have a tendency to outperform broad global equity benchmarks over the medium to long term.

This could make the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF a great long term option for investors. This is because it focuses on global companies that demonstrate strong and consistent free cash flow generation, growth of free cash flow, and relatively low levels of debt.

Among its holdings are household names such as Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Costco (NASDAQ: COST).

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VHY)

A second ASX ETF to look at is the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF.

It could be a good option if you’re looking for income from the share market. That’s because it provides investors with low-cost exposure to a portfolio of 70+ ASX shares that have higher forecast dividends relative to the market average.

But you’re not just buying the banks and miners. Vanguard highlights that security diversification is achieved by restricting the proportion invested in any one industry to 40% of the total ETF and 10% for any one company. It also points out that Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts (A-REITS) are excluded from the fund.

Among the dividend-paying shares you will be owning are giants BHP Group and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), as well as smaller companies such as Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) and Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR).

The ETF currently trades with a trailing dividend yield of 4.9%.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

A final ASX ETF that could be a great option for investors in July is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

It provides investors with access to approximately 1,500 of the world’s largest listed companies from major developed countries.

Vanguard highlights that investing internationally offers greater access to sectors such as technology and health care that aren’t as well represented on the Australian share market.

Among the ETF’s holdings are global giants from a range of industries. This includes Apple, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Nestle, and Visa.

The post 3 top ASX ETFs to buy in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why these 5 ASX ETFs could be quality options for investors
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Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 Alphabet, Apple, Costco Wholesale, JPMorgan Chase, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson and Nestlé. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, 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.

Two All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) ASX defence shares are among a select basket of stocks “poised to thrive in the coming decade”.

That’s according to the fund managers at Tamim Asset Management.

The All Ords ASX defence shares in question are DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) and Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA).

Now, both stocks have already been shooting the lights out.

The Codan share price has soared 60% over 12 months and is up 40% so far in 2024.

The DroneShield share price has rocketed an eye-watering 532% over 12 months and is up 301% year to date.

To put that in some perspective, the All Ords has gained 10% in 12 months and is up 2% in 2024.

Looking ahead, both ASX defence shares stand to be among the bigger beneficiaries of the AI revolution.

But that’s not why Tamim believes they’ll thrive over the next 10 years.

That investment rationale relates instead to their direct links to the global defence industry.

Government spending tailwinds

Successful international and ASX defence shares have some significant advantages over companies operating in other sectors due to the nature of government defence spending.

As Tamim pointed out, “substantial government spending provides a consistent revenue stream” for these companies.

Pointing to the defence budgets of the United States and Australia, the fund manager noted, “Government spending on defence remains robust, driven by the need to maintain national security and technological superiority.”

Atop those big spending packages, international and ASX defence shares also tend to benefit from long-term government contracts, providing investors with some security over next year’s revenue stream.

“By recognising these dynamics, investors can uncover quality businesses with strong tailwinds poised to thrive in the coming decade,” Tamim said.

All Ords ASX defence shares well-positioned to capitalise

Tamim highlights DroneShield, a leading provider of counter-drone and multi-mission unmanned systems solutions, as one of the promising players in the Australian defence sector.

The All Ords ASX defence share employs AI and machine learning to deliver advanced technologies for military, government, and commercial organisations in more than 70 countries.

According to Tamim:

In the most recent quarterly report, DroneShield reported incredible financial results for the first quarter of 2024, with revenue growing 10 times year-over-year and a significant increase in order intake.

The company has also expanded its global footprint, securing major contracts with military and government agencies, particularly in the US. Over the past 12 months, DroneShield’s share price has rocketed, reflecting the growing demand for counter-drone solutions and the company’s successful execution of its strategic initiatives.

As the threat of drone-related incidents continues to rise, DroneShield is well-positioned to capitalise on the increasing need for effective counter-drone technologies.

Tamim is also bullish on the outlook for Codan.

Codan develops rugged electronics solutions for government, corporate and consumer markets worldwide.

According to Tamim:

The company’s communications segment produces equipment used by military, law enforcement, humanitarian, and commercial organisations known for reliability and performance in harsh environments, making them ideal for defence applications.

Codan’s focus on innovation and quality ensures it remains a trusted supplier in the defence communications market. The company’s technologies also include metal detection…

On the performance front, the fund manager added:

The company delivered a strong H1 FY24 result, with group revenue up 26% to $265.9 million and net profit after tax increasing 24% to $38.1 million compared to the prior corresponding period.

The Communications segment achieved 12.5% revenue growth, while Metal Detection revenues surged 49%.

Despite higher expenses due to acquisitions and investments, earnings before interest & tax (EBIT) and net profit after tax (NPAT) grew 31% and 24% respectively. Net debt increased to $82.5 million after funding $30.3 million for the Eagle and Wave Central acquisitions.

Looking ahead, Tamim noted that the ASX defence share expects its Communications revenue growth to exceed the top end of its 10% to 15% target range.

The post 2 All Ords ASX defence shares ‘poised to thrive’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX 300 shares smashing new highs while the market sinks
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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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a difficult session and tumbled lower. The benchmark index fell 0.7% to 7,783 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to sink again

The Australian share market looks set to sink again on Thursday despite the positive night of trade on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 86 points or 1.1% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.05%, the S&P 500 rose 0.15% and the Nasdaq pushed 0.5% higher.

Oil prices soften

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a poor session after oil prices softened overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.25% to US$80.64 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.1% to US$84.97 a barrel. A surprise increase in US crude inventories weighed on oil prices.

Buy Paladin Energy shares

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. In response to recent share price weakness and news of a plan to acquire Fission Uranium, the broker has upgraded the uranium producer’s shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $16.10. It said: “PDN has sold off since we moved to a Hold in May-24. We see this as a potential buying opportunity irrespective of the transaction.”

Gold price falls to two-week low

It could be a poor session for ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) today after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 0.9% to US$2,309.8 an ounce. Stronger bond yields reduced the appeal of the precious metal and sent it to a two-week low.

Iron ore price rises

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) will be on watch on Thursday. That’s because the benchmark iron ore price raced higher overnight and could give these miners a lift ahead of today’s (expected) red session. According to the AFR, the iron ore price is up a sizeable 3.2% today. This appears to have driven by increased buying in China’s spot market amid bets that it will soon unveil more stimulus to boost its struggling property market.

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

More reading

• What is the outlook for Woodside shares in FY25?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Guess which ASX uranium stock was just upgraded to a buy rating
• Why Cettire, Collins Foods, Liontown, and Northern Star shares are dropping today
• 3 ASX 200 mining shares just downgraded by top brokers

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. 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 Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price has sunk 25% in ten months, as shown on the chart below. After a difficult period for the ASX oil and gas share, investors may be wondering if the next 12 months could be better.

The Australian tax year is about to finish, but Woodside’s financial year follows the calendar year. So, while FY25 is about to start for most of us, Woodside still has another six months left of its 2024 financial year.

We’re going to look at the outlook for the company, encompassing both Woodside’s FY24 and FY25.

Company’s outlook commentary

The business has guided that it’s expecting to produce between 185 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) and 195 MMboe in 2024. We won’t learn about its 2024 annual production numbers until January 2025, when it announces its 2024 fourth-quarter update. How much the company produces and the price it gets for that production can be key for Woodside shares.

It has also guided that it’s expecting capital expenditure of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion in 2024.

The business continues to work on its three major growth projects. Commissioning activities have been underway at Sangomar in Senegal for the last few months. The company said it was on track for its first oil in the middle of this year.

Woodside’s Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 projects were 62% complete at the end of the 2024 first quarter. The company says it’s on target for its first LNG cargo in 2026.

The last update we heard about the sales price for its production was in the first quarter of 2024. Woodside said its average realised price was US$63 per barrel of oil equivalent, which was down 5% quarter over quarter and 25% year over year. There continues to be energy market volatility.

Analyst forecasts for Woodside shares

The broker UBS said in a note in April that there is strong demand for LNG in North Asia, though it also sees “a global LNG surplus arising from 2027+”, which it believes is already putting down pressure on fixed slope pricing for new sales and purchase agreements. This “amplifies the need for accelerated LNG marketing activities”, according to UBS.

Looking at the forecasts for Woodside’s FY24, UBS predicts Woodside can generate US$12.36 billion of revenue, US$4.2 billion of earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), US$2.34 billion of net profit after tax (NPAT) and pay an annual dividend per share of 98 cents. The broker suggested Woodside could finish 2024 with US$2.7 billion of net debt.

UBS is only expecting a slight improvement in FY25. The broker expects revenue to be US$12.9 billion, EBIT to be US$4.27 billion, net profit to be US$2.48 billion and that the ASX oil and gas share could pay an annual dividend per share of US$1.05.

Woodside share price snapshot

The Woodside share price is down around 10% since the start of 2024.

The post What is the outlook for Woodside shares in FY25? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

It can be confusing for a beginner investor to know what ASX stocks to invest in. Should dividends or growth be the focus? What is a good price to pay for this investment?

There are plenty of interesting companies on the ASX that may be good investments, but there’s one S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock that I believe could suit almost every portfolio: Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL).

What Soul Patts does

Soul Patts is not one of the most famous business names, like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) or Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN), but it is one of the oldest. It has been listed on the ASX since 1903.

The company started off as a pharmacy business and eventually started making external investments in names like Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC).

These days, the investment house has exposure to various industries and asset classes, including ASX shares, private equity, credit, and property.

Some of its larger ASX stock investments include Brickworks, New Hope, TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), BHP, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

Good mixture of returns

Soul Patts shareholders benefit when the underlying value of its portfolio increases. The company has designed its portfolio to be defensive and resilient to economic shocks, which might be comforting for beginner investors.

It’s steadily making new investments, such as its acquisition of the entire electrification business Ampcontrol. As these businesses grow in value, they can drive up the value of Soul Patts, leading to capital growth for shareholders.

The cash flow received from its investment portfolio helps pay for dividends. The ASX stock has paid a dividend every year to shareholders since it was listed in 1903, and it has grown its annual dividend each year since 2000.

Over the 10 years to 30 April 2024, Soul Patts shares delivered an average return per annum of 11.3%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Accumulation Index (ASX: XAOA) by an average of 3.2% per annum. These figures do not include the benefit of franking credits. However, it must be said that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

It currently has a trailing grossed-up dividend yield of close to 4%, which I think is a solid starting yield for beginner investors.

Foolish takeaway

Soul Patts is an effective investment for beginners, in my opinion, because it can provide a mixture of dividends and capital growth. Its portfolio investments offer diversification while the growing dividend means we can benefit from owning shares without having to sell.

This ASX stock is one of the largest positions in my portfolio, and I’m planning to buy more of it over time. I think the current valuation is a good price to start a position.

The post 1 ASX stock that’s just right for beginner investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Should you buy Brickworks or Soul Patts shares today?
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, CSL, Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, Macquarie Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.