There are some important changes to be aware of regarding the ASX's opening and closing trade times, effective today (23 June 2025).

Market Open

From today, the ASX has moved to single open, with all stocks opening for trade at the same time, at around 10:00am (AEDT). 

Previously, the ASX has operated a staggered opening auction with five batches of shares. The first batch (companies with stock codes starting with A-B) opened at approximately 10:00am, while the fifth batch (companies with ticker codes beginning with S-Z) typically didn't open for trade until approximately 10:09am. It has been operated this way since the beginning of electronic share trading in 1987, mostly to allow for a more controlled opening of the market. However, the ASX is one of the only (if not the only) exchanges to have operated this way. 

Thanks to modern technology, the ASX no longer needs to stagger the opening. All shares will now go through an opening auction at around 9:59am, and normal trade will begin by 10:00am for all companies.

Key point: From today, all stocks will start trading at the same time – around 10:00am AEDT.

Source: ASX

Market Close

The ASX still closes at 4:00pm AEDT for normal trading.

Until now, the ASX has remained open until 4:00pm AEDT, with the Closing Single Price Auction (CSPA – the closing price for the day for any given security) taking place between 4:10pm and 4:11pm.

From today, the market will run a short closing auction between 4:00pm and ~4:10pm to determine the official close price for each stock at the end of the session. No trades go through at this time, though you might see prices adjust as this auction happens in the background. The closing price for each stock will then be determined at approximately 4:10pm.

There will then be a post-close trading session, from 4:12pm to 4:20pm, which will be mostly for filling the large orders of institutional or professional traders etc (the closing auction is an important period for many professional and institutional investors, many of which need to match the session's closing price as closely as possible). Notably, most retail investors cannot access this session.

Key point: Ordinary investors will generally need to place your orders before 4:00pm to have them filled on the same day. Any orders entered after 4:00pm will almost always wait until the next trading day to be executed.

The post Important Changes to ASX Trading Times appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Ryan Newman 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.

At The Motley Fool, we've spent more than two decades helping Australians build long-term wealth. We've published thousands of articles, issued hundreds of share recommendations, hosted podcasts, answered emails, taken your calls… and even begged you (nicely) not to check your portfolio five (ten? twenty?) times a day.

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Head of Innovation, Wearables and Office Supplies

Motley Fool Australia

The post Introducing FoolFit™: The Wearable That Helps You Become a Better Investor appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Why Greatland shares just hit a record high after a $260 million cash jump
• Why beaten down CSL shares now offer 'long-term appeal'
• 3 compelling reasons to buy QBE shares today
• Why I'd buy these excellent Vanguard ETFs in April

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 storm of another earnings season is now all but behind us, and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) turned slightly pear-shaped with a 4.22% loss for the month of February.

So we asked our Foolish writers to pause, take a breath, and let us know which ASX shares they think look ripe for the picking in March.

Here are the stocks they think will deliver plenty of fruit over the long term.

4 top ASX shares for March 2025 (smallest to largest)

• Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO), $32.43 million
• Brickworks Ltd (ASX: BKW), $3.98 billion
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), $12.12 billion
• WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), $29.94 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 28 February 2025)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF

What it does: This ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) invests in a portfolio of global companies, selected for their relatively high levels of operational cash flow.

By Sebastian Bowen: Given all the market gyrations that February brought us, I am focusing on investing fundamentals this March. With that in mind, this ETF from BetaShares has caught my eye. CFLO only invests in companies that have demonstrated habitually healthy levels of free cash flow in recent years. 

Companies with high levels of free cash flow are more resilient to economic shocks whilst indicating to investors that their underlying business model remains effective.

You can see this with CFLO's portfolio. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway currently tops the portfolio, but you'll find other quality holdings like Nvidia, ServiceNow, Google-owner Alphabet, and Adobe.

The Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF has only been around for a couple of years. However, the index it tracks has returned an average of 14.15% per annum over the ten years to 31 January. As such, I think this ASX ETF is well worth a look for any investor in the current climate.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Alphabet, and Adobe.

Brickworks Ltd

What it does: Brickworks is one of the largest building product businesses in Australia. It's a major producer of bricks, pavers, roofing, masonry, cement, and more.

By Tristan Harrison: This business could be a major beneficiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) recent interest rate cut. High interest rates have been a headwind for construction and renovation activity in Australia, so the start of rate reductions could boost future demand.

Another way Brickworks could benefit from the rate cut is through its investment in a joint venture industrial property trust with Goodman Group (ASX: GMG). Lower interest rates can reduce interest costs, increase rental profits and distributions, and increase the value of industrial properties. Those properties are also benefiting from long-term demand drivers like e-commerce.

The trust's underlying value provides significant support for the Brickworks share price, as does its large stake in Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares.

In the longer term, all three of Brickworks' segments (building products, properties, and Soul Patts) could deliver value growth for shareholders.

Finally, it's a solid dividend option too – it hasn't cut its payout for close to 50 years. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Brickworks Ltd and Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd.

Evolution Mining Ltd

What it does: Evolution Mining is one of Australia's largest gold producers. The company operates six mines. Its five wholly-owned mines are: Cowal in New South Wales, Ernest Henry and Mt Rawdon in Queensland, Mungari in Western Australia, and Red Lake in Ontario, Canada. Evolution also holds an 80% share of Northparkes in New South Wales.

By Bernd Struben: With the gold price trading near record highs of US$2,917 (AU$4,571) per ounce and broadly forecast to climb higher in 2025, I'm bullish on most ASX 200 gold stocks.

But with its low-cost production profile and production ramping up, Evolution Mining shares stand out from the pack.

In its recent half-year results, Evolution reported record underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.01 billion, up 77% year on year. And statutory net profit soared 277% to $365 million.

Over the six months to 31 December, the miner achieved a 22% increase in gold production to 388,346 ounces, while copper production was up 36% to 37,613 tonnes.

Driving the surge in earnings and profits, Evolution received an average gold price of AU$3,875 per ounce at an all-in sustaining cost (ASIC) of AU$1,638 per ounce.

The Evolution Mining share price is up 111% in a year. And with dividends increasing alongside profits, the stock also trades on a fully franked 1.97% trailing dividend yield.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Evolution Mining Ltd.

WiseTech Global Ltd

What it does: WiseTech describes itself as a leading developer and provider of software solutions that put productivity at the centre of the world's supply chains.

By James Mickleboro: When high-quality companies with wide moats are sold off due to a temporary issue, I think investors should take full advantage and load up on shares. And that is exactly what has happened to WiseTech shares, which tumbled deep into the red in February.

While the immediate term may remain somewhat volatile, I believe that when the storm passes, this quality tech stock will start to rebound and eventually reach new highs. Especially since the company dominates its industry and has a huge total addressable market that provides it with a significant growth runway over the next decade.

The team at Goldman Sachs highlights that "with the risk/reward profile skewed to the upside", it remains very positive on the company. So much so that following the release of WiseTech's half-year results, the broker reaffirmed its buy rating on the shares with a price target of $128.00. This is meaningfully higher than where WiseTech shares ended Friday's trading session.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of WiseTech Global Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in March 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How to build a million-dollar ASX share portfolio from zero
• The biggest mistake I see ASX investors making in 2026

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Brickworks, Goldman Sachs Group, Goodman Group, Nvidia, ServiceNow, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Goodman Group, Nvidia, and ServiceNow. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It's been a wild ride for investors so far this February earnings season. With only five trading days of the month to go, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fallen by a hefty 2.77% since the end of last month. Having said that, investors can't complain too much given the index gained a whopping 4.57% in January and is still trading only around 318 points shy of its all-time high.

But for many shareholders, the focus of their attention has been a little more granular this month, with a slew of Australia's highest-profile companies turning in their financial report cards for careful scrutiny.

As always, there have been a few surprises along the way — some very welcome, and others sending company share prices plummeting.

On that note, we asked Foolish writers which ASX shares they think are in the buy zone right now after some reporting revelations.

Here is what they told us:

4 top ASX shares to buy following reporting highlights (smallest to largest)

• AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP), $3.50 billion
• HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC), $4.07 billion
• GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG), $6.97 billion
• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), $209.35 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 21 February 2025)

Why our Fool writers are impressed with these ASX stocks

AMP Ltd

What it does: AMP provides banking, superannuation, and retirement services in Australia and New Zealand. The company has around one million customers and employs approximately 3,000 people.

By Bernd Struben: The AMP share price is up 27.06% since this time last year. That's despite shares tumbling 14.9% on 14 February, the day the financial services company released its full-year results. And shares closed down another 4.7% the following trading day.

The sell-down was driven, in part, by a 43.4% year-on-year decline in statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $150 million. But it's important to note that this reflects AMP's business simplification spend over the year as well as the losses incurred on the sale of its Advice business in December.

If we exclude these one-off occurrences, AMP's underlying NPAT actually increased by 15.1% year over year to $236 million.

With AMP having streamlined its business and now focussing on its strengths, I believe the recent selling presents an attractive entry level.

As AMP CEO Alexis George said following the results, "AMP is positioned to drive growth and build on opportunities in our wealth businesses to become a pre-eminent retirement specialist, and… a leading digital bank."

Atop potential share price gains, AMP shares trade on a partly franked trailing dividend yield of 2.17%.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of AMP Ltd.

HMC Capital Ltd

What it does: HMC Capital is an alternative asset manager that invests in high-conviction and scalable real asset strategies.

By James Mickleboro: I think HMC Capital has delivered one of the strongest results of earnings season (so far). The company smashed the market's expectations when it posted a 240% increase in pre-tax operating earnings to $202.2 million and a 204% jump in pre-tax operating earnings per share (EPS) to 51.9 cents.

Goldman Sachs notes that "HMC's 1H25 earnings of A$140.5 mn were up significantly pcp and above consensus expectations driven by stronger than expected management fees (higher FUM) and investment income partially offset by higher than expected operating expenses."

The good news is that I believe it's not too late to invest in this growing company. Particularly given its positive outlook, which is being underpinned by its diversification away from classic real estate and into areas with high recurring revenues, such as digital infrastructure and private markets.

In response to the result, Goldman Sachs reiterated its buy rating and lifted its price target from $9.86 to $12.30. It views the "result as evidence of HMC's ability to continue to raise AUM at an accelerated pace and in turn drive management fees (a high-quality and recurring source of revenue) higher."

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro does not own shares of HMC Capital Ltd.

GQG Partners Inc

What it does: GQG is a fund manager based in the US but also with a presence in Canada, the UK, and Australia. It focuses on a variety of investment strategies encompassing US shares, global shares, and emerging market shares.

By Tristan Harrison: I believe GQG's FY24 result and funds under management (FUM) for January 2025 were surprisingly good. The fact the company returned to FUM growth in January is a good sign for the foreseeable future.

In the 12 months to December 2024, GQG reported its average FUM increased 45.4% to US$148.2  billion, net revenue increased 46.9% to US$760.4 million, distributable earnings grew 50.4% to US$447.9 million and the dividend per share increased by 52.3% to US 13.67 cents. Those are some pretty strong numbers!

Pleasingly, January 2025 saw net flows of US$1.7 billion, with the overall FUM increasing by US$7.4 billion (or 4.8% month on month). As long as GQG's net inflows remain positive, I think its FUM and net profit can continue growing, thanks to the investment team's ability to produce good returns compared to their benchmarks.

According to Commsec forecasts, the GQG share price is valued at 10x FY25's estimated earnings.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares of GQG Partners Inc.

BHP Group Ltd

What it does: BHP is the second-largest stock on the ASX by market cap and one of the largest mining companies in the world. It has extensive global operations in commodities like iron ore, copper, potash, and nickel.

By Sebastian Bowen: Investors did not like the earnings report that BHP put out earlier this week, and its shares slumped as a result. Even though revenues, profits, and the cherished dividend all fell over last year's levels, I think this could well represent a buying opportunity for the 'Big Australian'.

As a miner, BHP is always going to be a volatile investment; after all, its main commodity, iron ore, can vary wildly in price alongside the economic cycle.

But it was BHP's copper numbers that piqued my interest in these earnings. BHP's copper earnings were up 44% year on year, and comprised 39% of the company's earnings base for the period.

I think copper has a bright future ahead of it as a commodity, as it is a key ingredient in everything from electric vehicles to renewable energy infrastructure. 

BHP knows this, and has been expanding its copper operations for years now. Evidently, this labour is nearing fruit. As such, I think investors should take another look at BHP shares right now as a potential buying opportunity after the company's post-earnings slump.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of BHP Group Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy following earnings surprises appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Gqg Partners, and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It's been a pretty decent start to 2025 for ASX investors. We are only a little over a month into the new year, and the ASX 200 has already leapt by 4.32%, notching up two new record highs along the way.

That's a reason to celebrate for existing investors, but what about those who are just looking to start buying ASX shares? Or seasoned investors wanting to add to their portfolios?

Well, as we covered last month, the great news is that just because the Aussie market is trading at or near record highs doesn't make now a bad time to buy.

In fact, if you take a closer look, you'll find there are many high-quality ASX shares that, for one reason or another, have been unceremoniously kicked out of the Aussie market's new-year party.

And while some of these sold-off stocks might languish in the short term for perfectly valid reasons, many can be great buys for long-term investors.

Here are five such ASX shares our Foolish writers think are going cheap right now:

5 ASX shares to snap up while they're cheap (smallest to largest)

• Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), $633.30 million
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), $3.32 billion
• Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV), $7.52 billion
• Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), $36.55 billion
• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), $46.79 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 7 February 2025)

Why our Fool writers think these ASX stocks are great value

Rural Funds Group

What it does: This real estate investment trust (REIT) owns a diversified portfolio of farmland across Australia, which includes almonds, macadamias, cattle, vineyards, and cropping.

By Tristan Harrison: The Rural Funds share price has fallen more than 20% in the past six months and has sunk approximately 50% from the start of 2022. While high interest rates justify some of the fall over the past three years, I believe the business has been oversold.

Rural Funds is still generating solid rental profits. In FY25, the ASX stock expects to grow its adjusted funds from operations (AFFO – rental profit) by 3.6% (despite the higher cost of debt) to 11.4 cents per unit.

I believe a company growing its underlying profits is likely to see its share price rise over time, so now could be a great time to consider Rural Funds while its valuation is so low.

The company expects to pay a distribution of 11.73 cents per unit in FY25, which currently translates into a distribution yield of 7.3%. That would be a solid return, just from the passive income alone.

With contracted rental growth in many of its leases – including annual fixed or linked-to-inflation increases – it looks like Rural Funds can continue growing its rental profit in the years ahead. I believe this justifies a higher valuation, particularly if Australian interest rates start coming down.  

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Rural Funds Group. 

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd

What it does: Domino's Pizza Enterprises probably needs little introduction. Australia's largest pizza chain, it also has operations in New Zealand, Asia, and Europe.

By Aaron Bell: Domino's share price reached an all-time high of more than $160.00 back in 2021. It has retreated a long way since then, falling 22.4% in the last month alone to trade at $35.93 at Friday's close.

Last November, the company announced the retirement of its CEO of 22 years, Don Meij, and the appointment of Mark van Dyck as the new CEO and managing director. 

I'm anticipating a turnaround in Domino's shares following some disappointing results over the last couple of years. 

Goldman Sachs agrees and is predicting growth for Domino's shares in 2025 based on a renewed focus on store unit economics and re-investment to ignite topline growth.

The broker has a buy rating on the pizza chain network and a share price target of $40.20.

An important date to watch will be when Domino's reports its FY25 first-half results on 25 February. 

It looks like brighter days are ahead, and Domino's share price is trading close to its floor. 

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell does not own shares of Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd. 

Endeavour Group Ltd

What it does: Endeavour is Australia's largest alcohol drink retailer with more than 1,675 stores across brands, including BWS and Dan Murphy's. It also has a network of 344 hotels across the country.

By James Mickleboro: With the Endeavour share price down almost 25% since this time last year, I think a compelling buying opportunity has been created for investors. 

While trading conditions are somewhat difficult right now, I believe that interest rate cuts could be a big boost to consumer spending in the category and underpin a big improvement in Endeavour's performance in 2025. 

Especially given the company continues to grow both its market share in the alcohol market and vast loyalty program during these trying times. The latter now has over 4.5 million active My Dan's members. Overall, I believe this leaves Endeavour well-positioned to be a big winner when the category recovers.

Goldman Sachs believes this will be the case and thinks Endeavour shares are being undervalued by the market. This week, the broker said:

Buy on our continued belief in a high quality retailer gaining share amid a category down-cycle with a resilient growth option in Hotels. [The] company is trading at FY25 P/E of 17x vs historical average of 22x and WOW 22x, COL 21x.

The broker has a buy rating and $5.10 price target on Endeavour shares.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Endeavour Group Ltd.

Woolworths Group Ltd

What it does: Woolworths operates the eponymous grocery and supermarket chain, the largest in Australia in terms of market share. It also owns the discount Big W network.

By Sebastian Bowen: Woolworths shares haven't been this cheap in years. The last time you would see this consumer staples giant at a share price under $30 was back in the 2020 COVID crash.

Yes, this company is currently dealing with some issues. Investors are probably bracing themselves for this month's half-year earnings report, given the costly impact of the staffing issues Woolies faced over the lucrative Christmas period, among other things.

However, I think this and other issues are temporary and do not threaten its long-term leadership of the Australian grocery sector.

As such, I believe the current Woolworths share price has been excessively oversold. In my view, the window to buy Woolies stock at a dividend yield of 2.5% (fully franked) probably won't be open for long. As such, I think Woolworths shares are worthy of a closer look for anyone looking for an oversold stock this February.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of Woolworths Group Ltd.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd

What it does: Woodside is Australia's largest independent dedicated oil and gas producer. The company has a portfolio of high-quality assets in Australia, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, Senegal, the United States, and Timor-Leste. 

By Bernd Struben: Though relatively flat so far in 2025, the Woodside share price is down more than 22% since this time last year.

Woodside has struggled to match the financial results we saw into mid-2023 as global energy prices retraced. Brent crude was recently trading for US$76 per barrel. But with global oil demand continuing to grow and tensions still simmering in the Middle East, I believe that's close to a longer-term floor.

The company is also one of the world's top LNG producers. With an eye on replacing coal power with a cleaner, reliable baseload electricity source, increasing global gas demand should also support the oversold stock.

In 2024, Woodside achieved a record calendar year production of 194 MMboe (million barrels of oil equivalent). And there's a lot of future growth to tap into, with Woodside's Scarborough Energy project 78% complete and its Trion project 20% complete.

And don't forget those dividends. Woodside shares trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 7.8%.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Woodside Energy Group Ltd.

The post Top oversold ASX shares to buy in February 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Why are Santos and Woodside shares crashing today?
• Buy, hold, or sell? Treasury Wine, Domino's Pizza, and Telstra shares
• What is Morgans saying about these massively popular ASX 200 stocks?
• The ASX dividend stocks I'd buy for a retirement portfolio

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Coles Group and Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

As the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) notches yet another all-time record high on Friday, many experts remain optimistic about the year ahead. Former Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) executive Jason Todd this week predicted "another strong year as earnings growth begins to pick up".

As for more bearish analysts concerned over current share market valuations? Todd went on to say, "Elevated valuations are more a stock-specific story than a market story".

High-flying fundie and Todd's co-founder of a newly launched $1.5 billion long-short hedge fund Jun Bei Liu is also bullish on Aussie shares — anticipating the ASX 200 will be "meaningfully higher" by the end of 2025.

And with much chatter in financial circles this week firming up on a potential cut to interest rates as soon as this month, February could be a great time to add some quality ASX shares to your portfolio.

On that note, we asked Foolish writers which ASX stocks they think are hot to trot right now.

Here is what they told us:

5 top ASX shares for February 2025 (smallest to largest)

• Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR), $14.19 million
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO), $584.32 million
• Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL), $12.59 billion
• ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), $59.00 billion
• CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), $135.79 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 31 January 2025)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks

Betashares Global Defence ETF

What it does: The BetaShares Global Defence ETF is an exchange-traded fund that allows ASX investors to gain exposure to a portfolio of global companies that are all leaders in the aerospace and defence industries.

By Sebastian Bowen: Most unfortunately, one of the trends I anticipate emerging over the next few years is higher defence spending across the globe.

The election of Donald Trump to a second term as United States president is, in my opinion, likely to result in the US pulling back from its leadership role on the world stage. If this does indeed occur, I believe we could see massive rises in defence spending from a variety of countries, ranging from South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan to the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.

Whilst I personally hope this doesn't occur, we must invest based on what is likely to happen, not what we wish might happen. As such, I believe the companies this ASX ETF houses are set to be prime beneficiaries of this trend. 

The ARMR ETF is made up of leading defence companies, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Palantir Technologies, and Safran.

The index this ETF tracks has returned an average of 16.1% per annum over the past five years (as of 31 December). Given the trend discussed above, I think there is a decent chance this track record will continue.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own any of the shares mentioned.

DroneShield Ltd

What it does: DroneShield develops and sells artificial intelligence (AI)-powered hardware and software to detect and disable drones. The company's clients include governments and militaries, airports, commercial venues, prisons, and critical infrastructure around the world.

By Bernd Struben: If you're buying DroneShield stock, you'll need to be comfortable with significant share price volatility. Daily gains or losses of 10% or more are not uncommon.

After peaking at $2.60 a share in July on the back of investor overexuberance, DroneShield shares closed on Friday at a more rational 67 cents a share. Despite the big decline, the stock remains up 30% over 12 months. And I believe it can deliver more outperformance in the year ahead.

In its Q4 2024 results, the company reported a 6.3% year-on-year increase in revenue to $57.5 million. While that growth was lower than expected due to several project delays, 2025 is off to a strong start, with DroneShield already having received $36 million in revenue in the new year. The company also has a $33.4 million contracted backlog, expected as a cash payment in H1 2025.

With global conflicts unfortunately likely to continue, the company said it has a medium-term pipeline valued at some $1.2 billion.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of DroneShield Ltd.

Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd

What it does: This investment house has been a publicly listed company for 120 years. It started as a pharmacy business and has since diversified into numerous sectors, investing in listed and private businesses and other assets.

By Tristan Harrison: Soul Patts has shown its ability to excel over the last five years, whether conditions are booming or not. The company significantly increased its credit/bonds portfolio as interest rates rose, enabling it to make equity-like returns with a different risk profile. 

The ASX 200 stock has the flexibility to invest in whichever asset class or industry it considers an opportunity, which could be useful to take advantage of any volatility or pockets of economic stress for the foreseeable future. 

The next few years could be strong for the ASX share market, with possible falling interest rates in Australia, depending on inflation. I think Soul Patts is well-positioned to benefit from rate cuts, with significant investments in building products, property, telecommunications, and financial services.

I'm choosing Soul Patts as an investment that could perform well in the next few years, thanks to its defensive and diversified portfolio.

As a bonus, it has a grossed-up dividend yield of close to 4%, including franking credits. And it has also grown its annual ordinary dividend every year since 2000, which appeals to me.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd.

ResMed Inc

What it does: ResMed is a sleep disorder treatment company. Its digital health technologies and cloud-connected medical devices transform care for people with sleep apnea, COPD, and other chronic diseases.

By James Mickleboro: Although ResMed shares have recently hit a record high, I don't believe it is too late to invest in this high-quality company. That's because I think ResMed has the potential to continue growing at a strong rate for a long time to come, driving its shares materially higher in the future.

This is due to its significant and underpenetrated total address market (TAM). The company estimates it has a TAM of 2.3 billion people globally. This includes more than 1 billion suffering from sleep apnoea.

And with its technology ahead of the competition and the company reinvesting 6% to 7% of revenue into R&D activities each year, I believe it is well-placed to grow its market share and drive strong earnings growth. Another positive is the increasing awareness of sleep disorders. This is being helped by smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch, now able to diagnose sleep apnoea.

Goldman Sachs still sees a lot of value in ResMed shares. Last month, it initiated coverage on the stock with a buy rating and a $48.90 price target. The broker expects "ongoing robust new patient growth for CPAP therapy despite the market entry of GLP-1 drugs to treat OSA."

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of ResMed Inc. and does not own shares of Apple Inc or Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

CSL Ltd

What it does: CSL is a global biotechnology company established in 1916. It focuses on three key areas: Rare and serious diseases, influenza vaccines, and iron deficiency and nephrology. 

By Aaron Bell: CSL is a blue-chip ASX 200 stock trading well below its fair value, in my opinion. Goldman Sachs echoes this, with a buy rating and a $325.40 price target on the stock. Given the CSL share price closed at $280.43 on Friday, this implies a potential upside of around 16% over the next 12 months.

One factor boosting CSL's short-term outlook is the recent news that Australian and United Kingdom regulators have approved the registration of a new therapy for the prevention of recurrent hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks. 

HAE is a rare, debilitating, and potentially life-threatening genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 50,000 people globally. 

The therapy is also under review in the United States, European Union, and Japan. 

Outside of this short-term news, CSL is one of Australia's largest companies by market capitalisation. It has a proven track record and strong position in the global market, servicing more than 100 countries. 

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell does not own shares of CSL Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in February 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why beaten down CSL shares now offer 'long-term appeal'
• Should you buy the 20% dip in the DroneShield share price?
• Why are DroneShield shares getting smashed today?
• Could the CSL share price reach $200 in 2026?
• DroneShield posts record revenue and unveils leadership changes

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, DroneShield, Goldman Sachs Group, Macquarie Group, Palantir Technologies, ResMed, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, ResMed and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. 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.

For investors, ASX earnings season can be like a birthday and Christmas rolled into one! Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but this period does have the potential to deliver shareholders some lovely gifts (in the form of dividends) and, hopefully, some nice surprises too.

When company results meet the high expectations of shareholders and analysts, share prices can make big moves in the days, weeks, and months following financial updates. But, just like birthdays and Christmas, earnings results can also sometimes leave investors disappointed.

Now, encouraging investors to buy top shares ahead of earnings season is not to suggest that trying to time the market is a good idea. Successful investing typically results from buying a diversified range of high-quality companies and holding them over the long term.

But investors can still aim to buy up said companies when they are trading at attractive prices.

So here are some our writers reckon are looking pretty attractive as earnings season draws nearer:

5 ASX shares to snap up before they report (smallest to largest)

• Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), $1.81 billion
• Life360 Inc (ASX: 360), $4.88 billion
• Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), $36.59 billion
• ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), $56.32 billion
• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), $203.21 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 17 January 2025)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks

Centuria Industrial REIT

What it does: This ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) owns a portfolio of quality industrial properties in Australia's major cities. Its properties include manufacturing and production plants, distribution centres, transport logistics hubs, data centres, and cold storage facilities.  

By Tristan Harrison: This is one of my favourite stocks at the moment, which is why I recently invested in it and also recommended it as my ASX dividend share pick earlier this month.

The business is benefitting from several tailwinds, including population growth, increased e-commerce adoption, the onshoring of production and assembly, rising demand for fresh food and pharmaceuticals (requiring refrigeration warehouse capacity), and increased data centre demand.

Those growth drivers are helping boost the company's rental potential and support its property valuations.

The Centuria Industrial REIT had net tangible assets (NTA) of $3.87 at 30 June 2024, so the current share price is sitting at a 27% discount to this. It's possible the NTA could rise in the FY25 first-half result, which is what I'll be closely watching.

In its FY25 first-quarter update, the ASX REIT announced it made $60 million of non-core divestments at an average 5% premium to the book value. Plus, peer Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI) announced a portfolio valuation update for HY25 that included a valuation uplift of 2.4% compared to its book value.

Could Centuria Industrial REIT see rising property values this year? I think there's a good chance, particularly if any RBA rate cuts occur in the next few months.

The business expects a small increase in its rental profit and distribution in FY25. The distribution guidance of 16.3 cents translates into a current yield of 5.8%.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Centuria Industrial REIT.

Life360 Inc

What it does: Life360 is a family connection and safety company. Its category-leading mobile app and Tile tracking devices allow users to stay connected to the people, pets, and things they care about most with a range of services. At the last count, Life360 was serving approximately 76.9 million monthly active users (MAU) across more than 170 countries.

By James Mickleboro: I think a recent pullback in the Life360 share price has created a buying opportunity for investors ahead of earnings season. Particularly given there is a reasonably high probability that the high-flying tech stock will deliver another stellar result in February. If that transpires, there's a fair chance that Life360 could soon be added to the illustrious S&P/ASX 100 Index (ASX: XTO).

Bell Potter believes this could be the case. When naming Life360 as one of its top tech picks for 2025, the broker said: 

The next potential catalysts are when Life360 releases its Q4/2024 result in February – we expect a strong result towards the upper end of the guidance ranges – and the S&P/ASX index rebalance in March where we see a good chance Life360 will be added to the Top 100.

Bell Potter also highlights that Life360's paying-subscriber penetration rate is currently 10%. This is well short of management's long-term target of 30%, which means there is "the potential for the paying subscriber base to triple from here."

Together with its ad business, which aims to monetise its free users, Life360 looks well-positioned for long-term growth.

The broker currently has a buy rating and a $26.75 price target on Life360 shares.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Life360 Inc.

Woolworths Group Ltd

What it does: Woolworths is a company we'd all be familiar with. It owns the largest and most popular chain of supermarkets in the country, as well as the discount Big W chain.

By Sebastian Bowen: Of all the ASX 200 blue-chip shares, I think Woolworths is the stock that is most primed for an earnings bump next month. Woolworths shares were battered over 2024. There was the poorly managed departure of longtime CEO Bradford Banducci for starters. 

But it was arguably Woolworths' earnings reports that really spooked investors. These showed Woolies losing considerable market share to arch-rival Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

As a result, the Woolworths share price went backwards by 18% in a year that saw the ASX 200 gain 7.5%.

However, I believe if Woolworths can show it has stemmed the bleeding next month, its shares have the potential to bounce back with a vengeance. This is not a done deal, mind you. 

However, the company is currently trading at its lowest earnings multiple in years. If investor confidence in Woolworths returns, I envision a big post-earnings move for this company.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of Woolworths Group Ltd or Coles Group Ltd.

ResMed Inc

What it does: ResMed develops, manufactures, and distributes cloud-connected medical devices to help people with sleep apnoea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other chronic diseases. The company has more than 24.5 million devices on the market spanning 140 countries.

By Bernd Struben: The ResMed share price gained more than 42% in 2024, and I believe the company is well-placed to outperform again in 2025. ResMed is scheduled to report its Q2 FY 2025 earnings after market close on 30 January.

The company reported its Q1 FY 2025 results on 25 October. For the three months to 30 September, ResMed reported revenue of US$1.225 billion, up 11% from Q1 FY 2024. Manufacturing efficiencies, component cost improvements, and an increase in average selling prices helped drive an impressive 4.20% increase in gross margins to 58.6%. Net income was up 42% year on year to US$311 million.

ResMed shares closed up 5.9% on the day it reported. I'll be looking for another uptick in income in the upcoming quarterly report.

Atop potential share price gains, ResMed shares trade on a slender 0.6% unfranked trailing dividend yield.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of ResMed Inc.

BHP Group Ltd

What it does: BHP Group is the world's largest mining company by market capitalisation. Its focus is largely on the production of iron ore, coal and copper. It operates in 90 locations worldwide, including Australia, the US, Canada, and Chile. 

By Aaron Bell: Perhaps a less 'sexy' pick than some under-the-radar penny stock, the rationale behind my stock recommendation is simply the opportunity to buy a world-class asset at a discount. 

BHP shares fell 21.5% in 2024 on the back of shifting demand from the Chinese market and low iron ore prices. 

Although the bounce back might not be immediate, I think investors will see too much value in this blue-chip stock to not snap it up in the near future. 

This sentiment is supported by MPC Markets and Morgan Stanley, which both have it listed as a 'buy'. 

Timing the trough to perfection isn't the play here, as you can scoop up Australia's second-largest company by market cap and a vital player in the national economy at a discount right now. 

An operational review is due out from BHP this Tuesday, and its half-year report is scheduled for 18 February. Both updates should provide further insight into what's to come this year for the ASX 200 mining giant. 

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell owns shares of BHP Group Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy before the February earnings season appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 analysts give their verdict on BHP shares
• 2 classy ASX healthcare stocks to buy before the next market surge
• The ASX dividend stocks I'd buy for a retirement portfolio
• ASX 200 sector leaders to buy amid today's market rally
• Experts name 3 ASX shares to sell

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Coles Group and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

According to the latest research from Aussie comparison site Finder, 85% of Australians have "set a financial goal for 2025". That's equivalent to 17.8 million people!

Furthermore, the study indicates around 14% of Aussies are specifically committed to "finding ways to increase earnings" this year.

While there are many ways to increase earnings — working more, creating a side hustle, selling stuff you no longer need — most of us would prefer a method that requires little additional effort.

Enter passive income!

As opposed to active income, which is obtained through the delivery of a service, passive income is defined as earnings that are achieved with very little time and effort.

One great way to earn passive income is to buy small chunks of quality Australian businesses — in other words, ASX dividend shares!

If this sounds like something that might be up your alley, you're in luck!

Because we asked our writers which ASX dividend stocks they reckon make great buys right now.

Here is what the team came up with:

5 best ASX dividend shares for January 2025 (smallest to largest)

• Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), $1.81 billion
• Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), $3.45 billion
• GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG), $5.42 billion
• APA Group (ASX: APA), $8.87 billion
• Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), $46.68 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 10 January 2025)

Why our Fool writers love these passive-income ASX stocks

Centuria Industrial REIT

What it does: This real estate investment trust (REIT) focuses on owning quality industrial properties around Australia's major metropolitan areas to provide a mixture of distributions and potential capital growth.

By Tristan Harrison: I recently decided to invest in this business because I believe it offers one of the most appealing medium-term opportunities on the ASX.

It looks like there's a decent chance the RBA will cut interest rates in 2025 as inflation levels start to cool. A rate cut could be very beneficial for Centuria Industrial REIT because it could boost rental profits (by reducing interest costs), increase the value of commercial properties and boost investor sentiment towards the REIT sector overall.

Furthermore, industrial properties are benefitting from several trends, including increasing rates of online shopping, a growing Australian population, rising data centre demand, and the onshoring of supply chains. These combine to boost the rental potential of the properties and increase their underlying value.

At 30 June 2024, Centuria Industrial REIT had an underlying value – called the net tangible assets (NTA) – per security of $3.87. At the company's current share price, it's trading at a 25% discount to the FY24 NAV. It also expects to grow its distribution by 2% in FY25, making the forward distribution yield 5.6%. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Centuria Industrial REIT.

Super Retail Group Ltd

What it does: Super Retail is one of the largest retailers in Australia and New Zealand, with around 750 stores. It owns iconic brands Supercheap Auto, BCF, Rebel Sport, and Macpac.

By Zach Bristow: Super Retail has a dominant presence in the Aussie retail space via its ownership of the franchises listed above. These brands are entrenched in our society and are spread across four uncorrelated domains: automotive, outdoor leisure, sport, and outdoor apparel.

The stock cycled last year and was heavily sold after a softer-than-expected trading update in October, with the Rebel business underperforming compared to the rest of the portfolio. Elsewhere, sales were strong, with total sales up 4% year over year.

However, investors have shown support for the stock since late 2024, and shares have since rebounded around 7% off their November lows. Given its generous 4.5% trailing yield and outlook for 2025, I think now is a good time to consider the stock.

Goldman Sachs rates the stock a buy and is bullish on its "continued store roll-out and productivity improvement". The broker forecasts forward dividend yields of 4.2% and 4.6% for FY25 and FY26 respectively, in line with present levels.

It values Super Retail at $17.60 apiece, with a potential upside of around 16% from today's price, rising to around 20% with the dividend yield included.

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of Super Retail Group Ltd.

GQG Partners Inc

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

By James Mickleboro: GQG Partners' shares have been under pressure over the past couple of months due to concerns over the company's investments in the Adani Group, which allegedly operated a multibillion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme. 

However, GQG's investments in the Adani Group only contribute a very small portion of its profits and the impact on its funds under management (FUM) has been muted so far. 

So, with the company's shares down by approximately 30% from their 52-week high, I think now could be a great time to buy this ASX dividend stock. Especially given the very generous dividend yields that are being forecast.

Goldman Sachs is forecasting dividends of 15 US cents (24 Australian cents) in FY 2025 and 17 US cents (27 Australian cents) in FY 2026. Based on the GQG share price of $1.84 at Friday's close, this would mean dividend yields of 13% and 14.6%, respectively.

The broker also sees plenty of upside for GQG shares with its buy rating and $2.80 price target.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro does not own shares of GQG Partners Inc.

APA Group

What it does: APA Group is Australia's largest energy infrastructure company. It owns, manages and operates a diverse $26 billion portfolio of gas, electricity, solar and wind assets.

By Bernd Struben: APA Group has increased its full-year dividend payouts every year now for the past 20 years. In FY 2024, APA Group delivered 56.0 cents per share in partly franked dividends, up 1.8% from FY 2023.

The past two dividend payouts totalled 56.5 cents. The stock traded ex-dividend for the interim payout on 30 December. At the recent share price of $6.91, APA Group trades on a partly franked trailing yield of 8.2%.

Now, the share price has come under pressure over the past year, down 19% in 12 months. While APA shares could continue to trend lower, I believe this represents a good long-term entry point. In FY 2024, the company reported statutory revenue of $2.59 billion, up 7.9% year on year.

Management expects to pay FY 2025 dividends of 57.0 cents per share, an increase of 1.8% in FY 2024.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of APA Group.

Telstra Group Ltd

What it does: Telstra needs little introduction. It is the largest provider of fixed-line internet and mobile telephony services in the country and remains one of the ASX's most popular dividend stocks. 

By Sebastian Bowen: Kicking off 2025, it's hard to go past this income stalwart for a solid, upfront dividend payer.

Telstra stock had a relatively muted 2024, with its share price more or less treading water. That was despite a substantial dividend hike last year. However, this has resulted in the company starting 2025 with a strong dividend yield of 4.41% at present.

Telstra provides highly inelastic services. If a recession hits, its customers are unlikely to ditch their mobile phones or home or business internet connections. That makes this company a highly reliable income payer, in my view.

Given Telstra's dividends have always come fully franked, I think the company's current yield is hard to ignore – particularly if interest rates start to fall this year. If they do, I would expect Telstra shares to rise and their yield to fall. As such, I think the telco is well worth a look for income right now

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Telstra Group Ltd.

The post Top ASX dividend shares to buy in January 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX dividend stocks that could pay you a passive income for years
• Buy, hold, or sell? Treasury Wine, Domino's Pizza, and Telstra shares
• How high can Telstra shares really climb from here?
• 3 top ASX dividend shares for retirement income in 2026
• How much would I need to invest in ASX shares to earn $1,000 in passive income every month?

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Super Retail Group, and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Happy New Year!

For many, the start of January marks the dawn of a new journey. Whether it's improving fitness, boosting career prospects, or building wealth, a New Year's resolution can be a powerful motivator.

That said, studies have shown only around 9% of people actually stick to the personal commitments they make at the start of a new year.

Finder analyst Saranga Sudarshan says setting unrealistic goals can be "a recipe for failure" and that achieving success requires being specific and consistent while taking things "one step at a time".

If, as 83% of Aussies did at the start of last year, you've resolved to get on top of your finances and start building wealth, you're already on the right track!

Even starting small — reducing spending, paying down debt, saving more, and slowly growing your investments — can deliver big results over time.

With time, consistency, and the magic of compounding, you can transform your financial future.

To help set your wealth-building resolutions, we asked our Foolish writers for their top ASX stock picks for new investors in 2025.

Here is what the team came up with:

6 awesome ASX shares for newbie investors in 2025 (smallest to largest)

• Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL), $1.53 billion
• Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ), $5.91 billion
• iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ), $6.31 billion
• VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL), $7.08 billion
• iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV), $10.60 billion
• Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), $25.74 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 3 January 2025)

Why our writers think these ASX stocks make great first buys

Objective Corporation Ltd

What it does: Objective Corp provides software that simplifies building assessments, information management, and regulatory compliance. The company's 2,000-plus customers are dispersed across more than 60 countries worldwide and range from ANZ Group Holdings to the Scottish Government.

By Mitchell Lawler: As many of my colleagues note below, ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide an excellent starting point for a first-time investment. However, I believe there is one striking limitation to ETFs for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the rewarding world of investing: Learning the essence of a good business. 

Part of being a good investor is understanding the qualities of good business. As Warren Buffett — widely considered the 'greatest of all time' investor — once said, "I am a better investor because I am a businessman, and a better businessman because I am an investor." 

That's why I think Objective Corp would make an ideal beginner investment. It's not only a fundamentally good business but also owned and operated by Tony Walls. In my opinion, Walls' long-term mindset provides an indispensable lesson for new investors hoping to master the art of investing.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Objective Corporation Ltd.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF

What it does: This ASX ETF tracks the performance of the Nasdaq-100 (NASDAQ: NDX), which holds 100 of the largest non-financial tech stocks. Annual management fees run at 0.48%.

By Bernd Struben: When it comes to ASX shares for beginners, I think ETFs are a great starting point. You can buy and sell shares in the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF just like any other ASX stock.

With NDQ, you gain exposure to some of the world's leading tech companies, garnering broad diversity with a single ASX investment.

Looking back at 2024, NDQ had a terrific run, with the ETF gaining a whopping 39%. That's largely in line with the gains posted by the Nasdaq-100, as intended.

The ETF's top holdings include powerhouse companies like Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon and Tesla.

All of these companies outperformed the ASX 200 in 2024, with Nvidia's 175% share price gains leading the charge.

While what happens in 2025 remains to be seen, I believe the long-term growth outlook for leading US tech stocks remains strong amid the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and global energy transition.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF

What it does: The iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF is an ASX index fund that tracks the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), a basket of Australia's largest 200 stocks.  

By Zach Bristow: For those looking to invest in ASX shares, the first question is usually where to start. A good place is the ASX 200 index. But you can't buy an index. It's not an investment.

Here's where the IOZ ETF comes in. It tracks the ASX 200 index's performance.

This allows you to own a portfolio of Australia's largest 200 companies by market value in a single investment. 

Many of these are companies with dominant market positions, such as the big four banks, mining behemoths BHP Group Ltd, Rio Tinto Ltd and Fortescue Ltd, and healthcare giants like CSL Ltd and Cochlear Ltd, to name a few. 

The IOZ ETF has climbed almost 10% in the past year, paying dividends of $1.14 per share in that time.

Looking ahead, Morgan Stanley projects overall economic growth to "improve gradually" next year in Australia. 

Meanwhile, accounting firm KPMG expects 2% economic growth in 2025, and the Australian Government's Trade and Investment Commission says Australia is projected to "continue to outperform our peers over the next 5 years to 2029".

These forecasts suggest a positive future for ASX shares, meaning the IOZ ETF should be well-positioned to benefit in 2025. 

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF

What it does: This ASX ETF is focused on owning the highest-quality companies from across global share markets.

By Tristan Harrison: I think an ASX ETF is a great place to start investing due to the instant diversification it can deliver with just a single investment.

But which ETF is the right one to go with? How about one in which every single portfolio holding is 'high quality'?

To be chosen for the QUAL ETF portfolio, these international businesses must rank well on three key fundamentals: A high return on equity (ROE), earnings stability, and low financial leverage.

This means the companies make high profits for the amount of shareholder money retained within the business, the profit doesn't tend to fluctuate dramatically, and they have low debt on the balance sheet.

When you put those factors together, they generally result in great businesses. There's a good chance these types of companies will perform over the long term thanks to their ability to reinvest newly generated profit for a high return (thanks to the high ROE).

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, but over the past decade, the QUAL ETF has returned an average of 15.7% per year. That return was more than 2% stronger per year than the MSCI World ex-Australia Index, which measures the global share market.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own units of the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF. 

iShares S&P 500 ETF

What it does: The iShares S&P 500 ETF is an index fund that gives ASX investors exposure to the largest 500 companies listed on the American stock markets. 

By Sebastian Bowen: Normally, I'm a big fan of ASX index funds for beginner investors. However, I think that this America-centric index fund is a better pick for a beginner investor in the current environment.

For one, the largest US stocks in this index fund are still growing at a healthy clip, unlike some of the ASX's biggest companies right now.

Zooming out, the iShares S&P 500 ETF gives beginners exposure to what are, arguably, the best businesses on the planet. This index fund includes famous American names like Coca-Cola, American Express, Ford, Mastercard and Netflix. 

However, its largest holdings — the likes of Apple, Amazon, Nvidia and Microsoft — are truly globally dominant and, in my view, a great place for a beginner investor to start.

If you're looking to kick off the new year with your first stock market investment, you could certainly do a lot worse than this all-star ETF.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Coca-Cola, American Express, Mastercard, Netflix, Amazon, and Microsoft.

Xero Ltd

What it does: Xero is a global small business platform provider. Its smart tools help small businesses and their advisors manage core accounting functions like tax and bank reconciliation, payroll, and payments.

By James Mickleboro: I think Xero would be a great option for beginner investors.

It is always advisable to invest in quality companies. So, as arguably one of the highest quality companies on the Australian share market, Xero certainly ticks this box.

In addition, the company has a huge growth runway that appears supportive of decades of growth. For example, in November, Xero had approximately 4.2 million subscribers using its cloud accounting software platform. This compares to its estimated total addressable market (TAM) of 100 million+ small-to-medium-sized businesses across the globe.

I'm not alone in this view. Last month, Blackwattle Investment Partners said its analysts "view XRO as one of the highest quality companies on the ASX with a significant long-term, compounding growth profile." Goldman Sachs also agrees. It recently gave Xero shares a buy rating and a $201.00 price target.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Xero Ltd.

The post New Year's resolution! Top ASX shares for beginner investors in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 simple ASX ETFs to start investing with $5,000
• Down 35% in 2026, are Xero shares the bargain buy of April?
• How long does it take to become a millionaire with ASX shares?
• Why now could be the time to buy these popular ASX ETFs
• Brokers rate these 3 top ASX shares as buys in April

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, CSL, Cochlear, Goldman Sachs Group, Mastercard, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Objective, Tesla, Xero, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Objective, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, BHP Group, CSL, Cochlear, Mastercard, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, 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.

2024 was a standout year for investors, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) delivering an impressive 9% upside.

If you've been looking to add to your portfolio and waiting for the right moment, you might be kicking yourself for not diving in sooner.

Now, with last year's gains in the rearview mirror, you may be wondering if it's worth holding off in the hopes of securing a better entry point before buying more shares.

While a 9% gain is certainly worth celebrating, it's important to remember that, over the past 24 years, the ASX 200 has delivered average returns of 8.2% per annum. In fact, only five of those 24 years have ended in the red for the Aussie market.

Could the market dip from here? Absolutely! But, looking at the big picture, short-term volatility is a small price to pay for such robust long-term gains.

Plus, time spent on the sidelines can also result in missed opportunities and lost profits.

So, if you're looking to add new holdings to your portfolio in 2025, it's quite possible there's no better time than right now!

On that note, we asked Foolish writers which ASX shares they think make top buying in January.

Here is what they told us:

6 top ASX shares for January 2025 (smallest to largest)

• VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF (ASX: MVW), $2.59 billion
• Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), $2.96 billion
• Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA), $2.97 billion
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), $17.89 billion
• Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME), $26.93 billion
• WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), $41.14 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 31 December 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks

VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF

What it does: This ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) is an index fund with a twist. It holds the largest 200 stocks on the ASX in equal proportions.

By Sebastian Bowen: I'm a big fan of traditional ASX index funds. However, with the largest holdings in the ASX 200 (namely the big four banks) rocketing in valuation over 2024 despite stagnant earnings, I have grown concerned with the prudence of investing in these traditional funds right now.

Instead, a better option to consider this January might be the VanEck Equal Weight ETF. 

Unlike a traditional index fund, MVW allocates each of the largest stocks in our market an equal weighting in its portfolio instead of the market capitalisation-weighting we would typically see.

This means that everything from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) to Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) gets the same allocation. As mentioned, this is a vastly different approach to a market capitalisation-weighted index fund, which normally sees the big four banks get around 25 cents of every dollar (with CBA alone worth around 11 cents of each dollar at present).

I think MVW's equal-weight approach might well do better over the coming years than a traditional index fund, thus making it a great idea to consider as we start 2025.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own units of the VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF.

Tuas Ltd

What it does: Tuas is a Singaporean telecommunications business listed on the ASX. It was founded by David Teoh, the man who helped TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) grow into a major player in Australia before its merger with Vodafone Australia.

By Tristan Harrison: I'm bullish about the long-term future of Tuas for many reasons.

First, it's growing mobile subscribers at a decent pace. At the end of the first quarter of FY25, Tuas had reached 1.11 million subscribers, representing an increase of 26.6% year over year and a rise of 5.7% quarter over quarter. Its low-cost offering could also continue to attract new subscribers.

Second, I'm excited by the company's potential to grow in the broadband space. As of the end of November 2024, Tuas had more than 10,000 broadband subscribers, and this number could significantly increase in the coming years.

Third, the ASX telco is rapidly growing revenue – in FY24, revenue rose by 36%. Furthermore, I believe revenue growth will closely follow the company's strong subscriber growth.

Fourth, Tuas is seeing good profit margin growth, which means it should be able to grow profit faster than revenue. In FY24, the company's operating profit (EBITDA) margin improved to 42%, up from 36%.

Finally, the company may, over time, expand to other Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, which have much larger populations than Singapore, potentially delivering a further boost to subscriber and revenue growth.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Tuas Ltd and does not own shares of TPG Telecom Ltd. 

Codan Ltd

What it does: Codan flaunts deep expertise in radio-based communications. The company's electronics prowess powers three product pillars: tactical communications, critical communications, and metal detection.  

By Mitchell Lawler: Codan receives little attention despite its instrumental role in public safety, military capability, and recreational metal detecting. What started as a high-frequency radio equipment manufacturer 65 years ago has become a comms powerhouse.

After numerous acquisitions, Codan now generates 59% of its revenue from products used by the military, law enforcement, and public safety. From my perspective, the advantage here is the sticky and permeable nature of communications in these markets. Government customers want simplicity and reliability, which lends itself to a single provider and long relationships. 

The company's shares aren't as cheap as they once were. However, I suspect we'll begin to see operating leverage in Codan's consolidated solutions over the next few years, which could see earnings exceed revenue growth.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Codan Ltd.

Northern Star Resources Ltd

What it does: Northern Star is one of the world's top 10 gold producers. The miner has three production centres and operations in Western Australia and the US state of Alaska.

By Bernd Struben: Northern Star shares gained 13% in 2024 amid a rising gold price. The ASX 200 gold miner also paid 40 cents per share in unfranked dividends.

I think Northern Star can keep outperforming and increase its dividends in 2025, in part based on potentially higher gold prices. CBA analysts are forecasting gold prices will average US$3,000 per ounce (AU$4,722/oz) in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from US$2,653 today.

In September, Northern Star provided FY 2025 guidance of 1.65 million to 1.80 million ounces of gold sold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of AU$1,850 to AU$2,100 per ounce (less than half CBA's forecast spot gold price for Q4).

I also like the look of the balance sheet, which shows Northern Star holding cash and bullion worth AU$998 million as of 30 September.

And if Northern Star's AU$5 billion acquisition of gold miner De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG) goes through, it will own De Grey's low-cost, long-life, and large-scale Hemi project in Western Australia.

Forecast gold production from Hemi stands at 530,000 ounces per year over its first 10 years.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Northern Star Resources Ltd.

Pro Medicus Limited

What it does: Pro Medicus is a leading healthcare informatics company. It provides a full range of medical imaging software and services to hospitals, imaging centres, and healthcare groups worldwide. 

By James Mickleboro: I think Pro Medicus could be a great option for investors in January. It was among the best performers on the ASX 200 in 2024, but I don't believe it is too late to invest. Far from it!

This health imaging technology company appears well-positioned to grow at an explosive rate for many years to come. This is thanks to its Visage 7 platform, which is the clear market leader.

A testament to this is the massive contracts the company continues to win from some of the most respected players in the healthcare sector. This includes November's $330 million, 10-year contract with Trinity Health, which is one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in the United States.

Even after winning this contract, management stated that its "pipeline remains strong and spans all market segments." In addition, Pro Medicus is expanding into adjacent solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cardiology, which could both deliver significant upsides in the future.

Morgan Stanley is very bullish on the company. So much so that last month, it initiated coverage with an overweight rating and a $300.00 price target on Pro Medicus shares.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Pro Medicus Limited.

WiseTech Global Ltd

What it does: WiseTech is a logistics software company that works with major logistics players in the freight forwarding and cargo transport industries.

By Zach Bristow: Wisetech shares wobbled throughout October and November of 2024 as founder and former CEO Richard White caught a number of headlines for personal conduct outside of the business. 

After a sharp drop in early October, Wisetech shares recovered to a 52-week high of $141.61 during intraday trading on 21 November. However, they have since retreated to $121 apiece at the time of writing.

In my opinion, this pullback provides an excellent opportunity to own a high-quality stock at an attractive starting value. 

WiseTech's earnings have grown by 34% per year, on average, since FY18, hitting 81 cents per share in FY24. UBS projects this growth to continue for the next five years, with the broker forecasting WiseTech's profits to grow by 36% per year out to FY29.

Meanwhile, according to CommSec, the consensus of analyst estimates projects 33% earnings growth over the next two years.

With the company's internal issues now seemingly sorted, its growing market position, and these growth numbers in mind, I believe WiseTech is primed for a good year in 2025.

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of WiseTech Global Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in January 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• After a 30% 2026 slide, Pro Medicus shares are rocketing again
• Pro Medicus announces $23m US contract
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• ASX 200 sector leaders to buy amid today's market rally
• 2 ASX 200 tech shares this fund manager backs to survive the AI threat

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The festive playlist is under construction, last-minute shopping is in full swing, and Mariah Carey's royalties are pouring in. In the warm, cozy tone of Michael Bublé, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas".

Why not add to the festive cheer and fill those Christmas stockings with some top-notch ASX shares?

It's a busy time of year, and nurturing our financial future can slip down the list of priorities. That might explain why 'improving finances' is one of the most common New Year's resolutions. Unfortunately, research suggests that only 9% of resolutions are kept, so it might be worthwhile laying the groundwork before the silly season really sinks in.

In the spirit of giving, we asked our writers to rummage around for their top shares. Here's what they pulled from Santa's sack this Christmas.

Consider it our Foolish gift to you.

5 awesome ASX shares to pop in your investment stocking (smallest to largest)

• Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1), $1.23 billion
• Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), $2.65 billion
• Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), $3.33 billion
• Life360 Inc (ASX: 360), $5.23 billion
• JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH), $10.39 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 13 December 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks

Megaport Ltd

What it does: Megaport provides a range of network-as-a-service solutions. In basic terms, a business can use Megaport's products to easily deploy, scale up or down, and switch off their cloud-based needs as they need it.

By Mitchell Lawler: Data is quickly becoming an integral piece of every business. Whether it's serving content at lightning speed via an app, rendering animations using cloud computing, or collaborating across the world using a private network, the need for flexible networks is growing. 

Megaport is sort of like a car rental for your network. You wouldn't buy a car just for a week's holiday in Japan; you'd hire one out. It's only logical the same method is now being applied to networking. 

Then it becomes important which car rental business has the most locations worldwide so you know you're covered no matter where you travel. Again, the networking game is no different. That's why it's a competitive advantage that Megaport possesses the largest software defined network in the world, connecting to more than 930 data centres across 26 countries. 

By my estimates, Megaport trades on a relatively undemanding valuation compared to its growth potential. On that basis, I think this company could be the gift that keeps on giving this Christmas.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Megaport Ltd.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT

What it does: Charter Hall Long WALE is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns a portfolio of commercial properties around Australia.  

By Tristan Harrison: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has finally stated it's seeing some progress on inflation in Australia. This suggests interest rate cuts may well happen in the first half of 2025 or even the first quarter. It will depend on how the economic data unfolds between now and February 2025.

High interest rates have been a key headwind for REITs over the past two or three years due to the higher cost of debt and the downward pressure they put on asset prices. So, if rates are cut next year, REITs could be one of the sectors that benefit most.

I like the diversification this ASX share's portfolio provides – its properties are spread across pubs and bottle shops, government-tenanted offices, telecommunication exchanges, service stations, grocery and distribution centres, food manufacturing, waste and recycling, retail, banking, defence, and more.

The REIT's tenants are signed on for long-term contracts, and the ASX share has a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of more than 10 years, which implies appealing income security. It's expecting to pay a distribution yield of 6.6% in FY25.

The valuation also seems attractive. As of 30 June 2024, it was trading at a 19% discount to its net tangible assets (NTA), which I think is a pleasing discount.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own units of the Charter Hall Long WALE REIT. 

Super Retail Group Ltd

What it does: Super Retail Group is, as its name implies, a company that owns and operates a group of some of Australia's best retailers. These include Super Cheap Auto, Rebel, Macpac, and BCF.  

By Sebastian Bowen: Like JB Hi-Fi, Super Retail might be a company you have visited (or will visit for those last-minute shoppers!) for a spot of gift shopping this Christmas time. Its chains are all leading providers of the specialty goods they sell. Anyone who works on cars is probably a frequent customer of Super Cheap Auto, for example. As outdoor enthusiasts would be over at BCF and Macpac.

Like almost all retailers, Super Retail has been hurt by the tight, inflation-ridden Australian economy in 2024. An October trading update warned shareholders that cost of living issues are weighing on the company's short-term outlook.

However, I think this company's long-term fundamentals remain sound, which should mean that Super Retal's fortunes should recover when the economy eventually picks up steam. As such, the current share price of $14.76 looks attractive to me. The hefty (and fully franked) dividend yield of 4.67% doesn't hurt either.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of Super Retail Group Ltd or JB Hi-Fi Ltd.

Life360 Inc

What it does: Life360 describes itself as a family connection and safety company. It keeps people close to the ones they love with its category-leading mobile app and Tile tracking devices. At the last count, the company's app had a massive 76.9 million monthly active users (MAU).

By James Mickleboro: I think a recent pullback in the Life360 share price is an early Christmas present for Aussie investors. Although its shares have tripled in value this year, I don't believe this is a case of irrational exuberance. I think it was a case of an extremely high-quality company being severely undervalued by the market a year ago and receiving a justified re-rating.

And given its very positive long-term growth outlook as it monetises its huge MAU and starts generating meaningful revenue from its new advertising business, I think Life360 shares can continue to deliver strong returns for investors in the coming years.

The team at Bell Potter believes that this will be the case. The broker recently put a buy rating and $26.75 price target on Life360 shares. It believes "there is the potential for the paying subscriber base to triple from here."

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Life360 Inc.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd

What it does: JB Hi-Fi sells home entertainment and home appliance products. The iconic Aussie retailer focuses on consumer electronics, electrical goods, and white goods through its JB Hi-Fi, JB Hi-Fi Home and The Good Guys stores. 

By Bernd Struben: With Christmas around the corner, why not own part of a company where you, or your friends, are likely to be splurging on holiday gifts?

Yes, JB Hi-Fi shares have already surged 89% since this time last year. But I believe the stock can keep outperforming in 2025.

For the three months to 30 September, the company achieved total year-on-year sales growth of 4.9% for JB HI-FI Australia, 19.6% for JB Hi-Fi New Zealand, and 5.3% for The Good Guys.

With wage growth in Australia now outpacing inflation and tax cuts putting real money back into consumers' pockets, I believe the company can keep boosting those sales in the year ahead. And if the RBA begins to dial back interest rates next year, which looks very likely, that should offer some added tailwinds.

On the balance sheet, JB Hi-Fi held net cash of $302.7 million on 30 June.

The stock also trades on a 3.6% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of JB Hi-Fi Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy before Christmas appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 tech shares this fund manager backs to survive the AI threat
• 3 ASX shares that could double over the next decade (or much sooner)
• 3 amazing ASX growth shares I'd buy and hold for the next decade
• Looking for long-term passive income? Try one of these ASX shares
• 2 ASX stocks that could help turn $10,000 into $1 million

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Megaport, and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jb Hi-Fi. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

2024 has been a cracker year for ASX shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) up almost 11% since the end of 2023. And it's not over yet!

If history is anything to go by, and the traditional Santa rally delivers the goods, the Aussie share market could be in store for even more gains before the year is out.

In fact, over the last 24 years, the ASX 200 has risen an average of around 1.5% over the month of December. Despite the index dipping 0.28% so far this month, the possibility of investors locking in further gains before New Year's Eve looks plausible.

With so many ASX shares trading at multi-year or all-time highs, uncovering good-value buys right now can be harder than finding a red nose on a reindeer.

But come all ye faithful! Because our Foolish writers have scoured the Aussie bourse and delivered a sack full of discount ASX shares to put on your buy list right now.

6 great-value ASX shares for December 2024 (smallest to largest)

• Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN), $876.05 million
• Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), $1.85 billion
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), $3.00 billion
• Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL), $12.96 billion
• Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), $27.01 billion
• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), $206.51 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 6 December 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these cheap ASX stocks

Jumbo Interactive Ltd

What it does: Jumbo is the little Brisbane-based software developer behind the Oz Lotteries platform. This humble business is responsible for a major portion of all lottery tickets sold online in Australia. Additionally, the company sells its technology as a white-label solution for other charity and lottery providers and a 'white glove' offering through its managed services segment.

By Mitchell Lawler: The latest trading update from Jumbo won't be winning any prizes for being impressive. Lottery retailing metrics were down for the first four months of the financial year, and operating margins are expected to retreat in FY25. 

However, anyone who has been around the block a few times in the lottery world will know there's a degree of cyclicality to the industry arising from the number of large jackpots. Jumbo can't control this, so I try to assess the company on longer timeframes than year-to-year. 

By all accounts, this is a phenomenal company – strong historical revenue growth, high return on equity (ROE), tidy balance sheet, etc. Yet Jumbo doesn't appear to be attracting a premium valuation. For example, the free cash flow yield equates to 6.1%, which makes the company look like great value in my eyes. 

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Jumbo Interactive Ltd.

Centuria Industrial REIT

What it does: This real estate investment trust (REIT) owns a portfolio of industrial assets across Australia, mainly in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

By Tristan Harrison: This ASX share is benefitting from a number of positive trends thanks to the types of properties it owns, including manufacturing and production plants, distribution centres, transport and logistics hubs, data centres, and cold storage facilities.

Various tailwinds, including increased e-commerce adoption, population growth, the onshoring of production and assembly, and increased data centre demand, are helping boost the company's overall rental demand.

In the first quarter of FY25, the business reported positive re-leasing spreads of 54%, which I think is a huge increase. This figure tells investors how much the rent on a new contract is compared to the old rental contract for the same building. 

At the end of 2024, Centuria Industrial reported it had net tangible assets (NTA) of $3.87 per unit, so the ASX share is trading at a 24% discount to this value.

Some investors may question whether the REIT's properties are worth as much as the NTA suggests in this high-interest-rate environment, but in FY24, the business sold $120 million of properties at a 4% premium to the balance sheet/book value. I think this goes some way to back up that NTA figure, and to me, the ASX stock appears to be trading cheaply relative to its underlying value.

As a bonus, it's expected to pay a distribution per unit of 16.3 cents in FY25, which equates to a distribution yield of 5.5% on current pricing.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own units of the Centuria Industrial REIT.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd

What it does: Domino's is a leading pizza chain operator selling more than eight pizzas every second across its 3,700 stores in 12 markets.  

By James Mickleboro: I think Domino's Pizza Enterprises would be a great option for investors this month.

It is fair to say that the last three years have been very disappointing for the company and its shareholders. Some of this has been caused by COVID headwinds, but much of it has been driven by management mistakes.

But with the company recently announcing a new and improved strategy, focused on franchise profitability, and a much-needed change of leadership, I think Domino's fortunes could be about to improve materially.

In light of this and the discount its shares are trading at compared to historical multiples, I believe now could be an opportune time to invest. 

Goldman Sachs thinks investors should be buying. The broker recently put a buy rating and $39.10 price target on Domino's shares. Its buy rating is based on the company's "earnings recovery trajectory with new management and limited valuation downside".

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd.

Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd

What it does: Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company, or Soul Patts for short, is an investing house that owns and manages a massive portfolio of underlying assets on behalf of its shareholders.

By Sebastian Bowen: With the markets continuing to push higher, it is getting harder and harder to find quality companies at reasonable prices on the ASX. But Soul Patts still fits the bill in my eyes. 

This is a quality stock if ever there was one. Soul Patts has a decades-long streak of delivering market-beating performance, thanks in part to its large holdings in top shares like TPG Telecom and Brickworks. It also happens to hold the ASX's record for longest streak of uninterrupted annual dividend increases (24 years and counting!). 

Even though the ASX 200 has gained almost 11% in 2024 to date, Soul Patts shares have only risen by just over half of that. This, along with the company's own metrics, tells me that this company remains relatively cheap, given its track record of beating the index over many years.

That's why I recently added to my existing position and would again at Friday's closing price of $35.24.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Washington H Soul Pattinson and Company Ltd.

Brambles Ltd

What it does: Brambles is the world's largest supplier of reusable wooden pallets sold under the iconic Chep brand. These pallets make their way around the world to more than 60 countries. 

By Zach Bristow: Brambles has a dominant market position in a relatively niche segment – wooden pallets. This automatically makes it a standout to me. But the company also has "excellent financials", according to John Hempton, founder of Bronte Capital. 

Hempton says the company has produced a 20% return on equity for the better part of 20 years. There's no reason for this to change in the near term, he says, making Brambles highly attractive. 

According to CommSec, the consensus of analyst estimates expects Brambles to grow profit by 15% in FY25. Analysts also project the company to deliver earnings per share (EPS) of 98.3 cents, stretching up to $1.07 the year after.

At the current price of $19.49 apiece, the forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for FY25 is nearly 20x on these projections and 18x looking two years out. 

With the market trading at more than 26x P/E at the time of writing, Brambles' 15% projected earnings growth, and roughly 20% expected returns on equity, this is a highly attractive stock, in my opinion.

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of Brambles Ltd.

BHP Group Ltd

What it does: BHP owns top-tier mining operations in Australia, North America, and South America. The diversified resources company earns most of its revenue from iron ore, with copper coming in at number two and coal also providing significant income.

By Bernd Struben: After tumbling more than 19% in 2024 to the recent share price of $40.70, I believe BHP shares are likely trading at a long-term discount.

The miner has come under pressure this year amid a big retrace in the iron ore price. Having topped US$142 per tonne in January, the industrial metal traded below US$100 per tonne through much of September before lifting to around US$105 per tonne in recent trade.

Much of that pressure has come amid weak growth in China, which has impacted steel production. But I don't think the Chinese Government can afford to continue limping through 2025.

Hence, I expect that China's recently announced $2.5 billion stimulus measures will be followed by more significant measures in 2025. If this does indeed transpire, it should offer a boost to iron ore and copper prices, along with the BHP share price.

The miner recently reaffirmed it was on track to meet its FY 2025 production guidance.

Atop potential capital gains, BHP shares also trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 5.4%.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of BHP Group Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy on discount in December 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why beaten down CSL shares now offer 'long-term appeal'
• Could the CSL share price reach $200 in 2026?
• Forget term deposits! I'd buy these ASX dividend shares instead!
• Why the recent ASX share market selloff is a wealth-building opportunity
• Buy, hold, or sell? Treasury Wine, Domino's Pizza, and Telstra shares

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, CSL, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Goldman Sachs Group, Jumbo Interactive, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, and Jumbo Interactive. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If, like Mariah, you don't want a lot for Christmas and don't care about presents underneath the tree, why not spend some of your hard-earned cash on ASX dividend shares instead?

In contrast to gifts that may break or be quickly forgotten, an investment in some high-quality ASX dividend stocks has the potential to spread joy for decades.

In fact, building up a portfolio of reliable dividend payers now could help set you up with the passive income stream you need to retire early. Name a better present for yourself and your family than that!

To get into the spirit, we asked our Foolish writers to provide their recommendations on some jolly-good ASX dividend shares to buy now and hold for at least the next 20 Christmases.

Here is what the team came up with:

6 best ASX dividend shares for December 2024 (smallest to largest)

• NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF), $2.66 billion
• TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), $10.21 billion
• Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL), $12.75 billion
• Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), $88.81 billion
• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), $120.07 billion
• CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), $137.10 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 4 December 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these passive-income ASX stocks

NIB Holdings Limited

What it does: NIB's origin story dates back to 2007, when a private health fund for BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)'s Newcastle Steelworks employees was demutualised. Since then, the green and white branded insurer has grown into a formidable force in the Aussie and New Zealand markets.

By Mitchell Lawler: The Australian health insurer has, in the melodic words of Pete Murray, 'seen better days'. Down a devastating 26% this calendar year, there's no reason to be doing a boot-scooting boogie when it comes to the company's share price. 

However, NIB's business still looks solid. Policyholder growth is strong, net margins for FY25 are expected to be between 6% and 7%, and the industry remains rather defensive. To top it off, the insurer offers a 5.3% dividend yield before franking (and it's fully franked!). 

Those franking credits can come in handy. Especially when we're talking about holding onto an investment for 20 years, which would take many of us into retirement. 

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of NIB Holdings Limited.

TechnologyOne Ltd

What it does: TechnologyOne is an ASX tech stock that specialises in providing enterprise software products and IT infrastructure services.

By Sebastian Bowen: If you're investing in a dividend share that you plan to hold for at least two decades, I think the best course of action is to look beyond the obvious names. Most of the ASX's established dividend payers offer high yields upfront but very little in the way of dividend growth. TechnologyOne is a company that offers the opposite. 

At face value, this stock's present sub-1% yield may not look like much. But TechnologyOne has been slowly and steadily raising its annual payouts for the past decade. Back in 2014, shareholders banked just 6.2 cents in annual dividends per share. But this year, that annual payout had more than tripled from 2014's levels to 22.4 cents per share.

If an investor buys TechnologyOne shares today, I think there's a good chance they'll be getting a monstrous dividend yield on their cost by the time 2044 rolls around. 

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of TechnologyOne Ltd.

Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd

What it does: Soul Patts is an investment conglomerate that invests across a wide array of ASX shares and industries.  

By Tristan Harrison: Soul Patts is one of the oldest businesses on the ASX. It has been operating and listed for 120 years and, as such, has already displayed excellent longevity. I think its flexible investment mandate will ensure it sticks around for at least the next two decades. And unlike other companies like banks and supermarkets, it can pivot its portfolio to new industries.

I'm a fan of Soul Patts' private equity portfolio, which owns several impressive businesses that could grow profit significantly in the coming years. These businesses are involved in everything from swimming schools and through to electrification, agriculture, and financial services.

I am also excited by the growth potential of some of Soul Patts' listed holdings, including Asian telco Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA) and the uranium business Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG). They could become much larger businesses in the next five years.

Turning to the dividend, Soul Patts has an excellent track record. It has grown its annual ordinary dividend every year since 2000, which is the longest growth streak on the ASX. It currently offers a grossed-up dividend yield of approximately 4%, including franking credits.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Washington H Soul Pattinson and Company Ltd and Tuas Ltd.

Macquarie Group Ltd

What it does: Macquarie is an international investment bank specialising in several markets including commercial banking, capital markets, commodities, asset management, and infrastructure.  

By Zach Bristow: Macquarie's diversified revenue stream is appealing in a world of uncertainty.  Each of its core segments has hard-to-replicate business advantages, in my opinion  

When inflation and interest rates rise, this hurts fees in Macquarie's banking division. But at the same time, profits from the company's commodities division then tend to shift higher. The result is a form of 'recession-proof earnings' that are somewhat buffered from hard swings in the business cycle. 

For instance, in FY22, when the economy and many businesses cut dividends after feeling the effects of hot-running inflation, Macquarie paid dividends of $6.50 per share, 7% above the prior period, and 21% growth from FY18. 

According to CommSec, consensus projects a $6.50 total FY25 dividend, stretching up to $7.20 per share the following year. If delivered, this represents 10% to 11% income growth at a 3.1% starting yield.

In the last 12 months, Macquarie paid $6.45 per share in dividends. Zooming out, the bank has grown its dividend by an average of 12% per year since 2010, when it paid $1.30 apiece. 

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of Macquarie Group Ltd.

National Australia Bank Ltd

What it does: Founded in 1982, NAB now counts as the second-largest of the big four Australian banks in terms of market capitalisation. Most of NAB's financial service businesses operate in Australia and New Zealand. NAB also has operations in Asia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

By Bernd Struben: NAB's dividend payouts have edged higher every year since 2020. That's the kind of trend I like to see. While there are likely to be a few rough patches over the next 20 years, I believe NAB can continue to broadly grow those dividend payments.

The bank stock trades at a significant discount to its larger rival, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), in terms of its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. And NAB has a dividend payout ratio target in the range of 65% to 75% of cash earnings.

For FY 2024, NAB reported cash earnings of $7.1 billion. The bank's 85 cents per share fully franked final dividend (up 1.2% from the prior year) represented a cash earnings payout ratio of 73.7%.

Over the full year, NAB delivered $1.69 per share in dividends. At the recent closing price of $39.06, the stock trades on a fully franked trailing yield of 4.3%.

NAB shares have also gained 36% over the past year.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of National Australia Bank Ltd.

CSL Ltd

What it does: CSL is a global biotechnology company with a portfolio of lifesaving medicines, including those that treat hemophilia and immune deficiencies, vaccines to prevent influenza, and therapies in iron deficiency and nephrology. 

By James Mickleboro: When investing for the long term, I think a focus on quality is needed. And with CSL a real candidate for Australia's highest-quality company, it ticks all the boxes for an ASX stock to buy and hold for 20 years, in my view.

In addition, now could be an opportune time to pick up the global biotechnology company's shares. After going nowhere for a couple of years due to post-COVID headwinds, a number of analysts believe CSL shares could be about to take off as the company delivers double-digit earnings growth each year for the next few years.

Bell Potter recently initiated coverage on CSL with a buy rating and $345.00 price target. It believes the "stock looks undervalued on a PE ratio 18%/8% below 5yr/10yr historical averages and is set for double-digit earnings growth driven by the core Behring division."

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of CSL Ltd.

The post Top ASX dividend shares to buy in December and hold for 20 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why beaten down CSL shares now offer 'long-term appeal'
• Could the CSL share price reach $200 in 2026?
• Forget term deposits! I'd buy these ASX dividend shares instead!
• Why the recent ASX share market selloff is a wealth-building opportunity
• What is Morgans saying about these massively popular ASX 200 stocks?

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

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the bourse,
Australian investors were feeling quite hoarse.

For the ASX rallied to a dizzying height,
And the cheering rang out across many a night.

But now savvy folk with more cash to invest,
Worry they may have missed out on the best.

Fear not, good investors, for now heed this;
We challenged our writers to a test of their wits.

And asked them to search the market low and high;
To find you the top ASX shares to buy.

So, without further ado, let's look to prove,
Why buying these stocks could be a smart move!

6 top ASX shares for December 2024 (smallest to largest)

• Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB), $2.02 billion
• Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), $3.26 billion
• Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW), $4.02 billion
• TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), $9.89 billion
• NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT), $10.42 billion
• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), $205.85 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 29 November 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks

Mesoblast Ltd

What it does: Mesoblast develops allogeneic (off-the-shelf) cellular medicines to treat severe and life-threatening inflammatory conditions. The company has a broad portfolio of late-stage product candidates.

By Bernd Struben: Last December, you could have snapped up Mesoblast shares for just 28 cents apiece. Today, those same shares are worth $1.77. That's a 528% gain in just one year.

Now, I don't expect the stock to repeat that stellar performance in 2025. But I do believe Mesoblast is well placed for another year of significant outperformance, with two of its core products moving towards commercialisation.

As Mesoblast chair Jane Bell pointed out at the November AGM, "2024 has been pivotal in our journey toward commercialising our therapies."

Amid ongoing progress with the United States FDA, the company is aiming to launch its Ryoncil product to treat ill children. Mesoblast also plans to file for accelerated FDA approval of its Revascor product for end-stage heart failure patients.

On the bottom line, Mesoblast's balance sheet remains solid. And costs have been coming down, with the company's net operating cash spend for the September quarter declining by 26% year over year.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Mesoblast Ltd.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd

What it does: If you head to your nearest major shopping centre, there's a high chance you'll find a Lovisa store. The fast fashion jewellery retailer has rapidly become a go-to for the latest trendy accessories in 49 countries worldwide, flexing a 927-store footprint.

By Mitchell Lawler: Lovisa's recent performance may not look as stylish as in previous years, and the 19% dulling of the share price in the past six weeks says as much. However, there are few companies in the retail sector unaffected by tightened consumer spending at the moment. 

In times like these, it is vital to see the bigger picture. While growth has slowed due to the weighty anchor of elevated interest rates, Lovisa remains an exceptional outlier of retailing excellence.

The company has more than doubled its net earnings and increased its revenue by nearly 2.8 times in just five years. 

The expansion opportunity is still intact, and Brett Blundy's colossal 39% stake suggests retailing royalty hasn't lost faith either.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Lovisa Holdings Ltd.

Brickworks Limited

What it does: Brickworks is best known as a major manufacturer of building products. It's the biggest brickmaker in Australia and northeastern United States. In Australia, it's also involved in roofing, stone and masonry, timber battens, cement, and more. The business also has an investments and property division.  

By Tristan Harrison: It's a tough operating environment in the construction industry at the moment, which is limiting demand for Brickworks' products. But, in a cyclical industry like building products, I think right now is a good time to invest. Conditions are weak, and investors can patiently wait for a rebound of demand when interest rates in Australia eventually fall.

Another attractive feature of this investment is its large asset base, particularly its investments and property division. At 31 July 2024, Brickworks had an underlying asset backing of $35.79 per share, so Brickworks shares are currently trading at an approximate discount of 25% to this.

Brickworks is expecting the property trusts, which it owns half of, to deliver "significant growth in net rental income" over the coming years from both new developments and lease renewals of existing assets.

The industrial properties are also benefitting from the structural trend of e-commerce demand growth, which the company thinks will "continue to drive demand" for prime industrial facilities for many years to come.

The company is continuing to evaluate the development potential of its real estate sites. Brickworks has used this land for building manufacturing but is now looking to develop it with industrial properties. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Brickworks Limited.

TechnologyOne Ltd

What it does: TechnologyOne is a software company that provides enterprise software to large corporations and governments. It is Australia's largest listed software company, with a footprint across six countries.  

By Zach Bristow: The securities of listed companies typically follow the earnings growth of the businesses they represent. TechnologyOne has compounded earnings at nearly 15% per year since 2015.

It earns tremendously high rates on capital employed, averaging more than 30% annually over the same period. Dividends, meanwhile, have averaged more than 10% growth per year since then.

It's no wonder that TechnologyOne's stock price has compounded by about 21% per year since 2014, as well. 

Part of the reason for this is that TechnologyOne's earnings are defensive, as it has exposure to sectors unrelated to the business cycle, such as governments, the education sector, healthcare, and so forth. 

These recession-proof profits have shown resilience and are valued highly in the market – the stock trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 84x at the time of writing. This is pricey, but consensus projects earnings to compound at 21% per year until 2027, according to CommSec. 

When you adjust for these growth rates, the forward P/E ratio is around 48x, which, according to CommSec data, is within range of the company's 10-year average of 42x. Any pullback to this valuation should be viewed favourably under this context.

Management now has the audacious goal of producing $1 billion in annualised recurring revenue (ARR) by FY30 and, if history is anything to go by, behind every dollar of these sales could be about 30 cents of operating cash flow. This kind of persistent earnings growth and heavy cash production is hard to come by.

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of TechnologyOne Ltd.

NextDC Ltd

What it does: NextDC is a technology company enabling business transformation through innovative data centre outsourcing solutions, connectivity services, and infrastructure management software. 

By James Mickleboro: Although NextDC shares have rallied strongly this year, a recent pullback means they are trading meaningfully below their 52-week high. I think this has created a rare buying opportunity to snap up shares in a high-quality company that has at least a decade of very strong growth ahead of it.

This is being underpinned by the data centre operator's growing footprint across the Asia-Pacific region and the third wave of demand that's being driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. 

For example, analysts at Morgans stated that recent industry updates reinforce their "view that the significant demand for cloud computing and AI-related digital infrastructure is going to un[der]pin attractive returns and long-term growth."

For this reason, the broker recently gave NextDC shares an add rating and a $20.50 price target.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of NextDC Ltd.

BHP Group Ltd

What it does: BHP is the largest mining company on the ASX and one of the largest in the world. It has huge operations in resources like iron ore, copper, and nickel.

By Sebastian Bowen: With the ASX 200 continuing to break new record highs, finding compelling value opportunities in the current market is difficult. That's why I'm checking out mining giant BHP. Unlike most ASX 200 shares, BHP has not had a good year in 2024, tanking by almost 20% since January.

To be fair, this hasn't come out of the blue. Commodities like iron ore have had a rough year, with their short-term outlook looking challenging today.

However, I always think the best time to initiate a position in a mining stock is when things are looking bleak. BHP is a cyclical company and has proven to be a lucrative investment (and dividend payer) when the cycle inevitably swings back up. 

As such, buying BHP shares at current levels might prove to be a wise decision down the road. Even when commodity prices are low, BHP tends to pay out a decent, fully franked dividend yield, as well.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of BHP Group Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in December 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 analysts give their verdict on BHP shares
• Why Bell Potter just downgraded its valuation of this popular ASX 200 share
• Why Challenger, Lotus Resources, Mesoblast, and Wildcat shares are falling today
• Why Bank of Queensland, Guzman Y Gomez, NextDC, and Telix shares are racing higher today
• ASX 200 sector leaders to buy amid today's market rally

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, Lovisa, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

What could a $500 investment in ASX shares be worth in years to come?

Let's take a look at some examples of how much $500 invested in specific ASX shares just a few years ago would now be worth today.

$500 ploughed into popular buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) just a year ago would now be worth around $4,000.

A five-year-old investment of the same amount in ASX 200 healthcare stock Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) would now be valued at $3,970.

Despite the stock's recent woes, $500 of lithium miner Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares bought five years ago would now be worth $5,642.

Of course, for every success story, there is an equally unhappy ending. Take Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO), for example. The $500 invested in this lithium hopeful two years ago has now been whittled away to around $30.

But invested wisely, the wealth-building power of the Aussie share market is undeniable.

Based on historical average returns of 9.3%, and with the power of compounding, the ASX turned a broad-based $500 investment 30 years ago into around $7,200 today!

The key is to get started early, continue investing, focus on the long term, and maintain a diversified portfolio.

So, if you're looking for a solid stock to park a few hundred bucks in this November, you're in luck!

We asked our Foolish writers to give us their top picks of ASX shares to buy with $500.

Here is what the team came up with:

5 ASX shares that would make great homes for a $500 investment (smallest to largest)

• Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ), $1.04 billion
• Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW), $1.40 billion
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN), $2.18 billion
• Life360 Inc (ASX: 360), $4.18 billion
• Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI), $9.39 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 15 November 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks right now

Smartgroup Corporation Ltd

What it does: Smartgroup administers employment management services to customers across not-for-profits, hospitals, government, and education. The company manages services such as novated leasing, salary packaging, and fleet management.

By Mitchell Lawler: I started with a $500 investment in an ASX stock almost eight years ago. Thinking back, watching the value of that stock rise over the next 12 months was probably instrumental in feeding my appetite to stick with the compounding machine. 

If I was just starting out now or only had $500 to spare, I'd invest it in Smartgroup. By my rough estimates, the company is significantly undervalued at its current price, offering a potential upside of approximately 65%. 

The business boasts a large net profit margin and is achieving a solid pace of growth. Moreover, at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 14 times, I wouldn't be surprised to see another takeover bid lobbed its way. 

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Smartgroup Corporation Ltd.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd

What it does: This business claims to be Australia's largest pure-play online retailer of furniture and homewares. It has 200,000 products on sale from hundreds of suppliers.

By Tristan Harrison: I think this company can grow significantly in the coming years. In FY24, it made $498 million in revenue, and it's on track to reach a goal of at least $1 billion in annual sales within the next four years.

Temple & Webster has an impressive, asset-light business model, allowing it to generate good cash flow. In FY24, the business generated $25 million of free cash flow.

I think future profitable growth looks promising. For example, Temple & Webster is using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help increase its sales conversion and lower the cost of doing business (CODB). As the company grows, its customer proposition can improve with a larger product range, better pricing, improved data and personalisation for customers, better service, and a stronger delivery offering.

In my view, Temple & Webster looks capable of capturing more market share in Australia. The homewares and furniture segment is seeing a steady increase in e-commerce adoption, which could bode well for future revenue growth. From FY25 to 24 October 2024, the company's revenue increased by an impressive 21%.

It also has a strong balance sheet, with $116 million of cash at 30 June 2024, which allows it to fund growth plans and an occasional share buyback.

There's a lot to like about this business for the long term, in my eyes. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Temple & Webster Group Ltd.

Paladin Energy Ltd

What it does: Paladin Energy is a Western Australian-based uranium company with a 75% interest in the Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) in Namibia. Paladin also holds a diversified global exploration and development uranium portfolio in Canada and Australia.  

By Bernd Struben: Paladin Energy shares closed on Friday trading for $7.29 apiece, down 55% since 14 May when shares were worth $16.37 each. That's rough for investors who bought the ASX 200 uranium stock six months ago. But it means you can now buy 71 Paladin Energy shares for $500, rather than just 30 shares at the mid-May prices.

Now, the stock could still retrace in the short term. But I believe, longer term, Paladin Energy shares could soar well past their early May levels.

First, I think the decline in global uranium prices this year will be short-lived as a cadre of nations (including the United States and China) and global companies (including Microsoft) increasingly embrace nuclear energy for reliable, low-emissions baseload power.

Second, much of the sell-down in Paladin Energy shares was driven by commissioning issues at LHM. While uranium production has ramped up, this hasn't happened as fast as management forecast. But Paladin is shutting LHM down during the last two weeks of November to address these issues. And if production picks back up in the second half as forecast, so too could the Paladin Energy share price.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Paladin Energy Ltd.

Life360 Inc

What it does: Life360 calls itself a family connection and safety company, keeping people close to the ones they love.  

By James Mickleboro: I think Life360 shares would be a great option for a $500 investment right now. I believe the technology company has a high-quality business model with a wide moat and very strong long-term growth potential. 

This week, the company revealed it has a whopping 76.9 million monthly active users on its eponymous Life360 app. This was up 6.6 million from just three months ago, which demonstrates just how quickly the company is growing. And given it is still in the very early days of monetising its vast user base, the future looks very bright.

Bell Potter agrees and responded very positively to this week's quarterly update. So much so, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating and lifted its price target to $26.75 from $22.50. This suggests there's still plenty more upside for investors despite Life360 shares rocketing over the past 12 months.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Life360 Inc.

Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd

What it does: Australian Foundation Investment Co, or AFIC for short, is a listed investment company (LIC) that has been around for decades. It specialises in managing a diversified and conservative portfolio of other shares on behalf of its investors.

By Sebastian Bowen: If you have $500 to invest this November, chances are you're either starting out on your investing journey, or else are looking for sturdy stocks that you can periodically invest in. AFIC fits the bill well for both of these scenarios in my view.

This listed investment company has a well-earned reputation for providing investors with a diversified and conservatively managed portfolio that pays out regular (and generous) fully franked dividend payments. 

You'll typically find the bluest of blue chip stocks in AFIC's portfolio, including banks, miners, consumer staples stocks and healthcare shares.

AFIC offers a decent starting dividend yield and a long track record of healthy returns. According to a recent update, its investors have enjoyed an average return of 9.9% per annum over the five years to 31 October 2024. 

Putting all of this together, I think AFIC is a great choice for a $500 investment this November. 

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy with $500 in November 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares that could double over the next decade (or much sooner)
• Why Arafura Rare Earths, Eagers Automotive, Life360, and Pro Medicus shares are racing higher today
• Why is this ASX energy stock racing 7% higher today?
• Why are ASX 200 tech stocks like WiseTech and Life360 going gangbusters on Wednesday?
• How to invest during an ASX share bear market when you're worried about prices falling more

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Microsoft, Temple & Webster Group, and Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus and 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 positions in and has recommended Smartgroup. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Microsoft, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Last month, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) hit an all-time high of 8,384.50 points, giving the benchmark index a one-year return of 18.8% before dividends. It is great news for those already fully invested, but what if you want to invest more money in ASX shares now?

Even the legendary Warren Buffett appears to be struggling to find a fitting home to park US$325 billion worth of cash. The aim of the game is to find investments where you can pay $10 for a $15 asset – this is the overarching principle of value investing. However, when many investors appear happy to pay $20 for a $10 asset in an exuberant market, the deals become harder to find. 

So, we asked our writers to channel their inner Buffett to find the value-oriented pockets within the ASX this month.

Here is what the team came up with:

6 ASX shares that are still great value in November (smallest to largest)

• Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW), $4.04 billion
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP), $4.37 billion
• Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU), $16.99 billion
• Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), $17.08 billion
• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), $45.61 billion
• CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), $138.12 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 12 November 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks right now

Brickworks Limited

What it does: Brickworks is the largest brickmaker in Australia and the northeastern United States. Its Australian operations also include roofing, masonry, cement, timber, and specialised building products.

By Tristan Harrison: The Brickworks share price has fallen by around 10% since the end of September 2024, making the stock pretty appealing to me today.

Elevated interest rates and a difficult Australian construction environment are weighing on the company's building products businesses. However, I believe that eventual rate cuts will be able to reinvigorate this segment. Recent rate cuts in the US could also help demand for bricks in that market.

But, it's the company's other segments — industrial property and investments — that most excite me about Brickworks.

In its recent FY24 result, Brickworks reported having an underlying asset backing of $35.79 per share as at 31 July 2024. As such, I think this ASX 200 stock offers a sizeable and attractive price-to-book discount.

Brickworks expects its industrial property trust, of which it owns 50%, to grow rental income from $180 million today to a calculated $341 million in the future as its rental contracts (currently below average market rent) are renewed and new industrial properties are completed. I think this could drive significant value for Brickworks shares. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Brickworks Limited.

Zip Co Ltd

What it does: Zip is a fintech company that provides payment solutions to customers and retailers via its buy now, pay later (BNPL) model.

By Zach Bristow: I believe Zip's remarkable recovery on the chart in 2024 is due to a combination of effective management and a solid growth vision that has been consistently applied. And I'm confident of more growth to come.

Shares are up by more than 800% in the past year as Zip grows sales and improves profitability. The BNPL business is also expanding its footprint in the US, which is proving very lucrative for the company.

Total transaction value (TTV) was up 43% in Zip's US business in Q1 FY25, hitting US$1.3 billion. This brought in more than US$92 million in quarterly sales for the company. 

The tailwind of interest rate cuts in the US is also bullish for Zip, in my view. Add to this the potential for cuts here in the future, and the recent uptick in consumer sentiment, I feel Zip stock could be a winner.

With confidence rising among Aussie consumers, this could equal higher spending across the retail segment. This would be positive for Zip and helps make it a solid buy, in my opinion, despite the stock selling at current lofty levels.

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of Zip Co Ltd.

Computershare Ltd

What it does: Computershare is an administrative powerhouse. The company is responsible for handling share registries, employee share plans, corporate financing, and much more in over 20 countries.  

By Mitchell Lawler: Sometimes, the stock market can feel a little like the toilet paper madness of the pandemic, i.e. people are willing to buy anything at any price. During these times, I like to scout out the 'boring' pockets of the market where no one seems to be paying attention. 

Computershare is the poster child of boring – I mean how many people get excited about administrative tasks? Yet, such tasks are of utmost importance for a functioning society and, in Computershare's case, a functioning financial system. 

At a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 18 times, Computershare trades at a slight discount to the overall ASX 200 despite the company's much higher expected earnings growth. 

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Computershare Ltd.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF

What it does: The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF is an ASX index fund that offers investors access to a portfolio consisting of the largest 300 shares listed on the Australian stock market.  

By Sebastian Bowen: When the market is at or near all-time highs, and individual stocks are looking expensive, my go-to response is to continue to invest in index funds like VAS. Yes, those expensive individual shares are also found in index funds. But I think we can mitigate the risk of buying stocks when they are pricey by spreading our capital across hundreds of different ASX shares. 

The Vanguard Australian Shares ETF represents everything from Commonwealth Bank of Australia and CSL to Coles Group and JB Hi-Fi. Some of VAS' 300 underlying stocks will be expensive right now, but others will still be reasonably priced or even cheap. As such, I think this exchange-traded fund is a great 'circuit-breaker' option to choose if you can't find an individual ASX share at the right price in our current market. Particularly so if you are already employing a dollar-cost averaging strategy. 

VAS has historically delivered a decent return to ASX investors over many years, including a hefty dividend component. Considering all of this, I think you could certainly do worse than this popular index fund in November. 

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns units of the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF and shares of CSL Ltd.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd

What it does: Woodside is Australia's largest independent, dedicated oil and gas producer. The company has a portfolio of high-quality assets in Australia, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, Senegal, North America, and Timor-Leste. Woodside continues to actively explore for new oil and gas deposits.

By Bernd Struben: The ASX 200 is up by around 19% over 12 months, while the Woodside share price is down by almost 25%. Yet with the market near all-time highs and Woodside shares trading near three-year lows, I believe this offers a great, long-term entry point for patient investors.

Investors have been pressuring the stock amid lower oil and gas prices. This saw Woodside report a 13.9% year-on-year decline in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) for the six months to 30 June. But the company is still very profitable, achieving a half-year NPAT of US$1.63 billion. And, eventually, oil and gas prices are likely to lift off once more.

I also believe Woodside is well-placed to benefit from a Donald Trump presidency. Trump is a big advocate of oil and gas exploration and production. And Woodside has committed to around $30 billion of investments in North America over the past year and half.

Atop a potential share price rebound, Woodside shares also trade on a juicy, fully franked trailing dividend yield of around 8%.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Woodside Energy Group Ltd.

CSL Ltd

What it does: CSL is a global biotechnology company that develops and delivers innovative medicines. Its products save lives, protect public health, and help people with life-threatening medical conditions live full lives. 

By James Mickleboro: I'm a firm believer in buying and holding high-quality ASX shares and think it is one of the best ways to grow your wealth. So, when a company that could arguably be classed as Australia's highest-quality company is on sale at a time when the market is near record highs, I think it is a no-brainer to buy it. Especially when most analysts agree that double-digit earnings growth is on the cards for the next few years.

Bell Potter certainly agrees. It recently initiated coverage on CSL shares with a buy rating and $345.00 price target. It said: "In our view the stock looks undervalued on a PE ratio 18%/8% below 5yr/10yr historical averages and is set for double-digit earnings growth driven by the core Behring division."

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of CSL Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in November with the market near all-time highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why beaten down CSL shares now offer 'long-term appeal'
• ASX shares to watch as oil price crashes
• Why are Santos and Woodside shares crashing today?
• Could the CSL share price reach $200 in 2026?
• Why the recent ASX share market selloff is a wealth-building opportunity

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, CSL, and Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks and Coles Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Jb Hi-Fi. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

As some popular ASX shares flirt with record highs this year and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) surges north of 9%, digging up reliable dividend stocks for their appealing yields right now is like trying to find a Democrat in Wyoming.

They are scarce!

And just like navigating political promises, the road is rocky, so you need to know how to avoid the traps and mind the bears!

To help you steer clear of the pitfalls (and hopefully strike paydirt), we asked our Foolish writers to reveal the best high-yielding ASX dividend shares they consider a buy this month.

Here is what the team has uncovered:

Top high-yielding ASX dividend shares for November 2024 (smallest to largest)

• Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8), $928.26 million
• IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH), $1.48 billion
• Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC), $2.05 billion
• Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), $3.32 billion
• GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG), $8.24 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 8 November 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these passive-income ASX stocks

Plato Income Maximiser Ltd

What it does: Plato Income Maximiser is a listed investment company (LIC) that specialises in providing large, fully-franked dividends on a monthly basis.

By Sebastian Bowen: With the ASX still hovering close to all-time highs, it has become harder to find dividend shares with yields over 5% right now. But my pick of this diminishing pool is Plato Income Maximiser. 

As I mentioned above, this LIC's primary goal is to provide its investors with a chunky stream of monthly dividend income, which tends to come fully franked as well.

Plato is able to do this by holding an underlying portfolio of top dividend shares, from which it harvests income to pass onto its investors. At the most recent update, these shares included Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL).

Over the past 12 months, this LIC has doled out a total of 6.6 cents per share in monthly dividends. At Friday's closing price of $1.245, this gives Plato a dividend yield of roughly 5.3%. With all this in mind, Plato Income Maximiser is my pick of the bunch for a 5%-yielding passive income share this November.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Plato Income Maximiser Ltd.

IPH Ltd

What it does: IPH is an international intellectual property (IP) services group. It owns a network of member firms working throughout 10 IP jurisdictions, with clients in more than 25 countries. The company highlights that its firms have been an integral part of the Asia Pacific's IP sector for more than 130 years.

By James Mickleboro: I think IPH is one of the most underappreciated ASX dividend shares on the local market. Thanks to its defensive earnings, it has been able to increase its dividend like clockwork every year for the past decade. That even includes during the COVID-19 pandemic when many listed companies suspended their dividend payments.

But if you thought this run was coming to an end soon, think again! Goldman Sachs, which has a buy rating and a $7.50 price target on IPH shares, expects increases through to at least FY 2027.

The broker has pencilled in fully franked dividends per share of 36 cents in FY 2025, 39 cents in FY 2026, and then 41 cents in FY 2027. Based on the IPH share price of $5.38 at Friday's close, this will mean dividend yields of 6.7%, 7.2%, and 7.6%, respectively.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro does not own shares of IPH Ltd.

Graincorp Ltd

What it does: Graincorp is an agribusiness and processing company that operates the largest grain storage and logistics network in eastern Australia. The company also provides grain marketing services.  

By Bernd Struben: Only a few quality ASX 200 stocks pay fully franked dividend yields north of 5%.

Drilling down to my top November pick, Graincorp paid out 54 cents a share in dividends over the past 12 months. At the recent closing price of $9.15, that sees this ASX dividend stock trading on a fully franked trailing yield of 5.9%.

Pleasingly, management maintained the latest interim dividend despite a hit to half-year profits amid difficult global grain market conditions over the six-month period.

But the year ahead is looking brighter for the company. With climatologists forecasting auspicious agricultural weather conditions, Graincorp stands to benefit from the potential of some bumper harvests. That, in turn, should support its FY 2025 dividends.

Atop the passive income potential, the Graincorp share price has soared 25.5% year to date.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Graincorp Ltd.

Super Retail Group Ltd

What it does: Super Retail is the proud owner of established brands Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BCF, and Macpac. It books sales and income from its network which is dotted throughout the nation.  

By Zach Bristow: The Australian retail sector is currently in a slump, with Aussie savers peeling back spending on consumer items such as cars, sports, and outdoor leisure.

Super Retail Group's stock price has reflected this pessimism, down 18.3% in the past month. The stock now trades at 17 times earnings, giving a chance to own a passive interest in some of Australia's most successful brands at a discount to previous history.

Super Retail's operating businesses each possess consumer advantages in their categories. I believe people would 'walk across the road' to attend Rebel or BCF rather than a lesser-known competitor, for instance. The cash flows produced by these businesses are then passed through to Super Retail Group's shareholders as earnings and dividends.

Goldman Sachs estimates the company's FY25 dividends at 73 cents, meaning the stock trades on a forward yield of 5% at the time of writing and above 5%, including all franking credits.

The broker rates Super Retail Group a buy with a $15.87 per share price target  

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of Super Retail Group Ltd.

GQG Partners Inc

What it does: GQG is an ASX-listed fund manager with its headquarters based in the US. One of its key investment individuals is chair and chief investment officer Rajiv Jain. 

By Tristan Harrison: GQG's main investment strategies are across international shares, global shares, emerging market shares, and US shares. Pleasingly, each of its funds has outperformed its benchmark since inception, providing a good organic boost for funds under management (FUM) and also helping attract new inflows.

As of 30 September 2024, the business had US$161.6 billion of FUM. Impressively, in 2024 to date, it has experienced net inflows of US$17.4 billion. In just the three months to 30 September 2024, it saw net inflows of US$6.2 billion. The growth of FUM is a direct driver of revenue and profit for GQG. 

GQG is committed to a dividend payout ratio of 90% of distributable profit, which is a generous dividend in my book. According to Commsec forecasts, the business is projected to pay a dividend yield of 8.3% in FY25.

While future growth isn't guaranteed, the company continues to grow FUM at an impressive rate and this could lead to further profit and dividend growth, leading to larger shareholder payments in the coming year.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares of GQG Partners Inc.

The post Top 5%+ yield ASX dividend shares to buy in November 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much would I need to invest in ASX shares to earn $1,000 in passive income every month?
• 2 of the best ASX dividend shares to buy in April
• $500 buys 148 shares in this 11% yielding ASX income stock!
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 3 ASX income stocks trading at attractive prices

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended IPH. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

As the US election draws ever closer, and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) hovers just 250 points shy of its all-time high, finding ASX shares with meaningful upside potential can seem challenging.

However, regardless of what unfolds in Washington next week, our team reckons the Aussie market is still ripe with prime investment candidates – for those with a long-term outlook.

So, if you're looking to add some new wealth-building heavy hitters to your investment portfolio in November, here are the ASX shares our Foolish writers are backing:

7 top ASX shares for November 2024 (smallest to largest)

• Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN), $810.79 million
• Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB), $1.57 billion
• Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), $2.39 billion
• Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS), $9.35 billion
• ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), $54.77 billion
• WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), $38.59 billion
• CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), $139.19 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 31 October 2024)

Why our Fool writers love these ASX stocks

Jumbo Interactive Ltd

What it does: Jumbo is one of the main companies in Australia making online lotteries possible. Most will know the business by its Oz Lotteries banner through which it operates its core lottery retailing segment. Additionally, Jumbo generates revenue from software-as-a-service and managed services – the latter a white glove service in fundraising for the not-for-profit sector.

By Mitchell Lawler: As the one-year chart above shows, the Jumbo Interactive share price has hardly made its shareholders feel like they've won the lotto. After a couple of twists and turns, shares are in the red for the 12-month stretch. 

However, I believe how the share price has performed recently is meaningless. While the shares are down, nearly every single key operational measure at Jumbo has improved compared to a year ago — revenue is up 34%, underlying net profit is up 30%, and free cash flow is up 14%. The company's operating earnings (EBITDA) margin ticked down to 48.1% from 49.6% – not exactly catastrophic. 

On a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 19 times, this highly profitable business seems dirt cheap to me.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Jumbo Interactive Ltd.

Web Travel Group Ltd

What it does: Web Travel is a global business-to-business travel company operating the WebBeds brand. It provides technology that connects hotels and other travel sellers to a diverse network of travel buyers all over the world.

By James Mickleboro: I think Web Travel Group could be a great ASX stock to buy this month after its shares were sold off in October. That sell-off came after management provided a trading update that fell short of expectations due to revenue margin weakness in the European market.

While this was disappointing, I believe it has created a compelling buying opportunity for long-term investors. Especially given the company is the number one player in a massive market and management is targeting explosive growth over the remainder of the decade.

For example, Web Travel aims to grow its total transaction value (TTV) by 25% to $5 billion in FY 2025 and then to $10 billion in TTV by 2030.

Because of this strong growth outlook, Goldman Sachs has put a buy rating and $6.70 price target on Web Travel shares. The broker notes that "trading at FY25e P/E of 18x vs FY24-27e EPS CAGR of 10.1%, which is still undemanding relative to our broader ANZ Consumer coverage."

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Web Travel Group Ltd.

Tuas Ltd

What it does: Tuas is a Singapore-based telecommunications company that was spun out of TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG). Tuas is led by David Teoh, who helped TPG grow into the business it is today.  

By Tristan Harrison: I'm still very bullish on the long-term prospects for Tuas shares. It was my top pick last month, and there are a number of reasons why it's still compelling to me. I think Teoh can utilise the same playbook of offering low-cost telco services to subscribers who are looking for great value.

Tuas is doing well in Singapore despite its relatively young age. The telco recently reported its FY24 result, which showed strong progress across a number of metrics. 

The company reported that its revenue increased by 36% to $117.1 million, largely driven by a 28% rise in subscribers. It also reported a 3.3% rise in the mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) to $9.68.

Tuas is demonstrating pleasing operating leverage, with rising profit margins enabling the bottom line to rise faster than revenue. Operating profit (EBITDA) increased by 60%, with the EBITDA margin rising to 42% (up from 36%).

I think the business can continue growing subscribers in Singapore and it's also looking to grow its broadband customers. At the end of FY24, it had 4,000 broadband subscribers and reported strong consumer interest in its offering, which bodes well for FY25 and beyond.

One of the most exciting reasons to consider Tuas is that I believe it may expand to other countries with much larger populations in the future, such as Indonesia or Malaysia. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Tuas Ltd. 

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF

What it does: The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that provides exposure to 1,300+ international companies listed in several developed nations.  

By Bronwyn Allen: International shares are popular among Aussie investors this year following the outperformance of the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) compared to the ASX 200 in FY24.

Investors are also increasingly drawn to ETFs given their easy diversification and, arguably, lower risk compared to individual stocks. Not surprisingly, these two trends have come together, with ETF provider Vanguard reporting that its Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF was the most popular ETF in its group during the September quarter, attracting cash inflows that were almost double its second-most popular ETF.

I see several benefits to the ASX VGS. There's great geographical and sector diversification, with the ETF exposed to 1,300+ listed companies across 11 market sectors in developed nations. I also like this ETF's focus on large, global businesses, with about 80% of holdings being large-cap stocks.

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen does not own units of the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. 

ResMed Inc

What it does: ResMed manufactures and sells respiratory devices and software that help with sleep, mainly continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, used to manage sleep apnoea. It has a large share of this market after competitor Philips recalled its CPAP devices in recent years. 

By Zach Bristow: ResMed's market position places it at the tip of the spear in the respiratory device market and centres it well to capture several structural tailwinds in my view.

One, the push into artificial intelligence (AI) has ResMed already partnering with developers to build 'detection' software for sleep apnoea. This could drive further growth in operating profits, up 21% last year to US$1.5 billion.

Two, around 1 billion people suffer from sleep apnoea worldwide – representing a large, untapped market. ResMed currently has 26 million devices in the field, 2.6% of this population.

Three, GLP-1 weight loss drugs could drive more people to treat their sleep-related issues, and their choices are limited – ResMed products in most instances.  

Macquarie rates the stock a buy with a $41.10 price target. With shares trading off recent highs, this could be an attractive entry point for the long term.

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow does not own shares of ResMed Inc. 

WiseTech Global Ltd

What it does: WiseTech provides logistics software to improve the efficiency of global supply chains. The company's software solutions, including its flagship CargoWise One solution, are used by more than 17,000 logistics organisations, including all of the top 25 global freight forwarders.

By Bernd Struben: WiseTech shares took a big, and in my opinion undeserved, hit following a series of unflattering allegations involving the personal life of founder and CEO Richard White. This led to White stepping down last week. Fortunately for the company, he will stay aboard in a high-level, long-term consulting role to drive product and business development.

While WiseTech shares have mostly recovered from the 26% fall they suffered from 15 to 24 October, shares remain down almost 14% from their 'pre-scandal' highs, which could be a bargain long-term entry point into this thriving ASX growth stock.

What kind of growth are we talking about?

In its FY 2024 results, WiseTech reported a 28% year-on-year increase in total revenue to $1.04 billion, while underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $284 million was up 15%.

The WiseTech share price is up by around 104% in 12 months. I don't foresee it doubling again in a year. But I do think the ASX 200 tech stock is likely to amply reward patient shareholders.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of WiseTech Global Ltd.

CSL Ltd

What it does: CSL is a massive healthcare company, with significant operations in medicine, blood plasma products, and vaccinations.

By Sebastian Bowen: This November, I am conscious that the markets remain very close to their all-time record highs, with many ASX 200 shares looking pricey. One stock that isn't looking too expensive, though, is healthcare giant CSL. Today, CSL shares, at under $290 each, remain at a similar price to what you could have bought them for nearly five years ago.

Yet I think the market is missing something here. CSL remains a growth company. Back in August, it revealed an 11% rise in revenues for its 2024 financial year and an 11% hike in net profits. CSL also guided that it expects profits to grow by another 10% to 13% in FY 2025.

This is a global-scale healthcare giant with an impressive R&D pipeline and, thus, a bright future ahead of it. With these healthy numbers, I think CSL is a smart buy when compared to most other ASX blue chips this month.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of CSL Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in November 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why beaten down CSL shares now offer 'long-term appeal'
• Could the CSL share price reach $200 in 2026?
• Why the recent ASX share market selloff is a wealth-building opportunity
• 2 classy ASX healthcare stocks to buy before the next market surge
• New to investing? 3 ASX ETFs to set and forget for 10 years

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Goldman Sachs Group, Jumbo Interactive, Macquarie Group, ResMed, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, ResMed, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Jumbo Interactive, 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.

Regardless of your primary source of income, dependability is key.

Whether it's a salary, interest from bank deposits, or dividends from ASX shares, we all seek some level of security over the frequency and amount of our future earnings.

When investing in ASX dividend shares for long-term passive income, many investors understandably gravitate toward large, established companies with a proven track record of consistent dividend payments. While no company's future growth or earnings can be guaranteed, many factors can be considered when weighing up the likelihood of long-term dividend dependability.

So, we asked our Foolish writers which ASX dividend shares they think should be on your buy list right now if you're seeking reliable income for years to come.

Here is what they told us:

5 top ASX dividend shares for October 2024 (smallest to largest)

• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), $3.35 billion
• APA Group (ASX: APA), $9.91 billion
• Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL), $12.85 billion
• Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU), $15.36 billion
• Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), $24.08 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 11 October 2024).

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX passive income stocks

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd

What it does: Domino's Pizza Enterprises is Domino's largest franchisee outside of the United States, with a network of more than 3,800 stores. It holds the master franchise rights to the Domino's brand and network in Australia, New Zealand, and several European and Asian markets such as France and Japan.

By James Mickleboro: The last couple of years have not been easy for Domino's Pizza Enterprises. Management failed miserably in its battle with inflation after customers pushed back on its attempt to pass on its higher costs.

But with inflationary pressures now easing and management announcing a renewed focus on store unit economics and reinvestment to ignite top-line growth, things are looking up for the company. This could make now a great time to make a buy-and-hold investment in this ASX dividend share.

Particularly given the potential for its dividend to grow significantly in the future as Domino's returns to growth. 

Goldman Sachs expects this to be the case. After paying a $1.06 per share dividend in FY 2024, the broker is expecting Domino's to pay dividends per share of $1.19 in FY 2025, $1.45 in FY 2026, and then $1.73 in FY 2026. Based on its current share price of $36.24, this will mean dividend yields of 3.28%, 4.00%, and 4.77%, respectively. 

Goldman has a buy rating and a $40.00 price target on Domino's shares.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd.

APA Group

What it does: APA Group is an energy infrastructure business. The company, with a market cap of $9.9 billion, owns and operates a diverse portfolio of gas, electricity, solar, and wind assets.

By Bernd Struben: When it comes to ASX dividend shares to buy and hold for the long term, I first look at whether a company has been growing its dividend payouts. On that front, APA Group has increased its interim and final dividends every year for the past decade.

In FY 2024, APA Group paid a 26.5 cents per share interim dividend and a 29.5 cents per share final dividend, partly franked. At the recent APA Group share price of $7.65, the stock trades on a 7.3% trailing yield.

And with Australia's rapid population growth and ongoing energy transition, I think this diversified energy infrastructure company is well-placed to continue growing its dividends for many more years.

While APA Group shares are down 7% over the past 12 months, I also think this stock is poised to offer some capital gains.

In its FY 2024 earnings results, the company reported a 7.9% year-on-year increase in statutory revenue to $2.59 billion. Statutory net profit of $998 million was up from $287 million in FY 2023.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of APA Group.

Washington H Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd

What it does: Known as Soul Patts, this company operates as an investment conglomerate that started as a pharmacy business. It was listed on the ASX in 1903. 

By Tristan Harrison: When I think of investing in ASX dividend shares for the long term, I favour companies with consistent track records of dividend payments. If I'm relying on dividend income to pay for my life expenses, I'd like to be confident that passive income will continue flowing to me, even during periods of downturn (though nothing is guaranteed!).

Soul Patts has paid a dividend every year to shareholders since its listing in 1903. Additionally, it has grown its annual ordinary dividend each year since 2000. That's the longest-running dividend streak on the ASX.

The company funds this growing dividend from the cash flow received from its portfolio of assets. Those investments are diversified across multiple defensive industries that I believe offer relatively uncorrelated cash flow and good investment return potential.

Some of Soul Patts' biggest investments are in sectors such as telecommunications, resources, property, building products, swimming schools, agriculture, financial services, and credit.

As the ASX dividend stock's cash flow from existing and new investments grows, I believe its dividend growth can also continue. In FY24, Soul Patts grew its net cash flow from investments by 10.3% to $468 million, and the annual ordinary dividend was hiked by 9.2% to 95 cents per share.

It currently offers a grossed-up dividend yield of close to 4%. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison owns shares of Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd.  

Computershare Ltd

What it does:  Most investors have probably encountered Computershare when managing their portfolios. Whether receiving a dividend or participating in a share purchase plan, Computershare often has a hand in the process. As a financial administration business, the company is paid to handle communications, shareholder records, mortgage services, and more.

By Mitchell Lawler: Many would see Computershare as a boring company unworthy of investment. However, excitement rarely makes for a good filter of quality investments! 

What Computershare does possess is a moat – a way of keeping competitors at bay. Computershare's main line of defence is efficient scale. Simply, this means there's a limited market (number of companies requiring administrative services), and usually, only the largest providers can become financially viable. 

Computershare currently yields 3.15% in dividends. It is not exactly a money-printer compared to other ASX dividend shares, but given its low payout ratio and growing earnings, there are solid prospects for future dividend growth.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Computershare Ltd.

Coles Group Ltd

What it does: Coles is the second-largest grocer and supermarket operator in the country. The company owns the eponymous Coles supermarket chain, as well as the Liquorland bottle shop brand.

By Sebastian Bowen: I've often regarded Coles as one of the ASX's best long-term bets when it comes to dividend income, and this October is no different.

Since departing from the Wesfarmers nest back in 2018, Coles has established itself as one of the ASX's most consistent dividend payers. The company has increased its annual dividend every single year since 2019, which is no mean feat considering the COVID-induced carnage of 2020 and 2021.

I think that companies in the consumer staples sector tend to be the strongest dividend payers on the markets, thanks to the essential nature of the products they produce or sell. Coles fits this bill to a tee, given its established market share in the grocery and liquor sectors. 

Given Coles is among the cheaper places to shop for food, drinks, and household essentials, I think its fully-franked dividends will continue to rise slowly over time with population growth. As such, I would happily recommend Coles to any long-term income investors this month.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Wesfarmers.

The post Best long-term ASX dividend shares to buy in October 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Goldman Sachs Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Coles Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Collins Foods and Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Are you just starting out on an investment path? Perhaps you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the perfect time to dive in and buy some ASX shares.

Meanwhile, you may have watched incredulously as the Aussie stock market soared 18% over the past year and cracked multiple all-time highs in the process.

Now what? Are you thinking perhaps you should hold off and wait to buy the dip? Is now really a good time to invest?

As Motley Fool's chief investment officer, Scott Phillips, wrote this week, no one knows what the market will do next, especially in the short term. And Scott's advice? "Just keep investing!"

Scott explained that over his almost 30 years of investing, he didn't "try to time the market". He just "saved regularly, invested steadily, and stayed the course". He further highlighted that the stock market "has never yet failed to regain, then surpass, a record high".

So, we asked our Foolish writers which ASX shares they think are great buys right now for beginner investors.

Here is what they came up with:

6 best ASX shares for newbie investors in October 2024 (smallest to largest)

• Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK), $1.35 billion
• Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ), $4.94 billion
• VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL), $6.20 billion
• Argo Investments Limited (ASX: ARG), $6.76 billion
• Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), $40.29 billion
• Resmed Inc (ASX: RMD), $50.93 billion

(Market capitalisations as of market close 4 October 2024).

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX stocks

Nick Scali Limited

What it does: When looking to style a living or dining room, Nick Scali is a brand that often comes to mind. Boasting 128 store locations across Australia and New Zealand, the high-end furniture retailer is well-established locally. But Nick Scali is no couch potato, expanding into the United Kingdom more recently.

By Mitchell Lawler: When I think about what makes a good ASX share for beginners, there are two key traits I'm looking for: 

• An easy-to-understand business (preferably one you're a customer of)
• Simple and solid fundamentals for valuing the business.

I frequently hear of people who 'tried' investing and now swear off it altogether. Almost every time, it involved an extremely speculative company, often in a pre-profit stage, leaving would-be investors to assign a valuation based mostly on hopes and dreams. 

Nick Scali is not that. This company has survived and thrived for 62 years, is highly profitable (~17% net margin), and can be easily assessed on real returns to shareholders today (not some arbitrary point in the future). 

Plus, at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17 times and a projected annualised earnings growth rate of 10%, I believe Nick Scali trades on an undemanding valuation. 

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Nick Scali Limited.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF

What it does: This ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) seeks to mirror the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX), before fees. 

By Bronwyn Allen: We live in an increasingly technological age, so I think the NDQ ETF provides a great no-brainer investment for beginners.

The ETF tracks the NASDAQ-100 index, which represents the largest 100 companies on the NASDAQ exchange. The NASDAQ-100 is full of tech stocks, including big names like Alphabet, Nvidia, and Microsoft, as well as many leading global companies in other sectors.

Betashares investment strategist Tom Wickenden reckons the NASDAQ-100 is home to global innovators, who are more likely to deliver superior earnings growth in the future.

The companies comprising the NASDAQ-100 have a global revenue base, and the index has opposite sector weightings to the ASX 200. This makes NDQ a great complementary holding next to an ASX index-based ETF. The ASX NDQ also has a great track record, delivering an average total return of 20.23% per year since 2019. 

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen does not own units of the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF. 

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF

What it does: This is a globally-focused ASX ETF that invests in a portfolio of businesses that rank highly on various quality factors.

By Tristan Harrison: I think beginner investors would be well-served by considering an ETF that provides instant diversification, owns high-quality shares and can deliver strong, long-term returns.

The QUAL ETF is invested in around 300 businesses from around the world. There are a number of countries represented in the portfolio, including the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, France, Canada, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, and Germany.

To make it into the portfolio, companies must rank well on three factors: high return on equity (ROE), earnings stability, and low financial leverage. When you combine these elements, you'll find a very compelling business. Every single one of the holdings in this ETF is a high-quality company.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns, but the QUAL ETF returned an average of 16.5% in the five years to 31 August 2024. Some of its biggest positions currently include Nvidia, Meta Platforms, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet.

This is the sort of investment that could make solid returns for decades, in my opinion. 

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own units of the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF or any of the stocks mentioned.

Argo Investments Limited

What it does: Argo Investments is a listed investment company (LIC) that has been around for decades on the ASX. It invests in a portfolio of underlying shares on behalf of its shareholders, which it manages with trademark conservatism.

By Sebastian Bowen: When considering the right shares for a beginner on the ASX, I'm a big advocate for starting with broad-based investments that offer inherent diversification and minimal permanent capital loss potential.

In this vein, I think Argo is a great fit. This LIC has been around since the end of World War II. Over the subsequent decades, it has built up a reputation as being a solid, conservatively managed company that has delivered respectable growth and dividend income for its investors.

Argo holds a huge portfolio of investments dominated by blue-chip Aussie shares. These typically include everything from Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Telstra to Woolworths and Bunnings-owner Wesfarmers.

For one, this gives Argo shareholders a huge amount of safety, as their money isn't tied up to the fortunes of one single company. But it also means investors tend to enjoy an 'average' return, of sorts, of the whole stock market. 

I think this is a perfect combination for a beginner investor who wants to start their investing journey with a toe dip.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Telstra Group Ltd and Wesfarmers Ltd.

Woolworths Group Ltd

What it does: Founded in 1924 and listed on the ASX in 1993, Woolworths owns Australia's biggest supermarket chain. The company has more than 1,000 stores across the nation and more than 185 stores in New Zealand. Woolworths also owns Big W.

By Bernd Struben: When it comes to shares for beginners, I think Woolworths' lengthy track record makes it a good starter stock. And with inflation heading lower, customers may again boost spending even as Woolies' operating costs come down.

Now, Woolworths' stock has dropped 10% since 28 August as the government mulls over the alleged duopoly it shares with rival Coles. And the recent ACCC accusation of misleading sales price advertising hasn't helped improve investor sentiment.

But I believe both issues are temporary, and Woolworths should be able to weather the spate of unfavourable media coverage. This makes the recent share price retrace a potentially opportune entry point.

Atop the potential for a share price rebound, Woolworths is also a reliable dividend payer. At Friday's closing price of $32.98, Woolies shares trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 4.37%.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares in Woolworths Group Ltd.

Resmed Inc

What it does: ResMed is a medical device company that focuses on developing, manufacturing, and distributing sleep disorder treatment solutions. 

By James Mickleboro: If you are just starting your investment journey, then I believe it is important to focus on high-quality companies with the potential to grow materially over the long term.

ResMed ticks both of these boxes for me. Not only is it a global leader in sleep health, but it has one of the most positive growth outlooks on the Australian share market. For example, last week, the company released its five-year revenue and earnings guidance. 

ResMed revealed it expects to help more than 500 million people worldwide achieve their full health potential in 2030. The company believes this will position it to grow revenue in the high single digits each year and earnings at an even quicker rate.

And while ResMed shares have already risen strongly over the past 12 months, analysts at Ord Minnett don't believe it is too late to invest. They recently put an accumulate rating and $39.00 price target on the stock.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of ResMed Inc.

The post Top ASX shares for beginner investors to buy in October 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 classy ASX healthcare stocks to buy before the next market surge
• The ASX dividend stocks I'd buy for a retirement portfolio
• 3 high-quality ASX shares I'd buy and hold for the long term
• 3 simple ASX ETFs to start investing with $5,000
• How to build a million-dollar ASX share portfolio from zero

Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, ResMed, and Wesfarmers. 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 positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, ResMed, Telstra Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nick Scali, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.