One of the many joys of investing in the share market is being able to own a piece of a company you know and love. It's a great feeling buying a much-loved product or service, knowing that you also have a stake in the company that is making it. Not to mention the earnings it will receive from your purchase. One could call it the circle of life of the investing world.
But here in Australia, we don't have the same opportunities of participating in this circle as some of the larger economies of the world.
For example, over in the United States, you can buy an iPhone, have a Coke, or purchase something on Amazon with the full ability to own a chunk of the companies that are providing these goods and services.
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The ASX has its downsides…
But here in Australia, I doubt that too many customers of our largest companies would have such a level of affinity. When was the last time you heard someone describe their love of Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)? Or BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)?
Most Australians probably don't even have a firm grasp of what CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) does. And bashing banks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is something of a national sport.
Luckily, there is still a way for ASX investors to own shares (albeit indirectly) of the likes of Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN). It's using exchange-traded funds (ETFs), of course.
ETFs work by grouping large baskets of shares together under one investment. By purchasing units of the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) for example, you are getting a small piece of Amazon, Apple and Coca-Cola, all in one package.
Investing in what you love… with ETFs
But what if one of your favourite companies isn't listed in the United States? That's a conundrum I am personally facing.
One of my favourite companies in the world is Nintendo Co Ltd (TYO: 7974). If you're unaware, Nintendo is one of the world's largest gaming companies. It makes home consoles such as the Wii and Switch. But it also (in my opinion) owns some of the world's most valuable intellectual property.
Have you heard of Mario and Luigi? Princess Peach and Bowser? All are video game characters owned by Nintendo. What about Pikachu? Pokemon is also a Nintendo franchise.
These characters have been delighting both children and adults for decades now.
How I plan to buy one of my favourite stocks in the world with an ASX ETF
Pick anyone under a certain age, and it's likely that one or more of these video game characters played a formative role in their childhoods. That includes this writer. As such, I regard Nintendo as having some of the most valuable entertainment-related intellectual property in the world. Perhaps only rivalled by the likes of Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS).
I happen to love using Nintendo products and would love to share in that commercial prosperity as a part-owner of this company. But Nintendo is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japan. As such, is a rather difficult company to invest in from Australia.
But luckily, there is an ASX ETF for that.
The VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO) is a fund that, according to the provider, seeks to give investors acute exposure to "a diversified portfolio of the largest and most liquid companies involved in video game development, esports and related hardware and software globally".
One of those companies just happens to be Nintendo. As it currently stands, Nintendo stock is the sixth-largest company in this ETF's portfolio. It accounts for approximately 5.2% of the total weighted holdings.
Foolish takeaway
So I'm planning on buying this ETF in 2023 so I can get some exposure to one of my all-time favourite companies. It's a perfect example of the wonders of modern investing – such an endeavour would have been almost impossible for an Australian even 15 years ago.
