When these targeted themes rally, investors can capture market-beating returns. 

However, on the flip side, when these sectors face headwinds, losses can also be amplified. 

Due to geopolitical tension, rising interest rates, and other economic factors, sectors like healthcare and technology have been heavily sold off in 2026.

There are several ASX ETFs that target these sectors. 

After falling significantly this year, let's look at funds that could be undervalued right now. 

Morningstar Global Technology ETF (ASX: TECH)

This ASX ETF seeks to invest in companies well-positioned to benefit from increased technology adoption. 

This includes companies whose principal business is in offering computing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and/or cloud and edge computing infrastructure and hardware.

At the time of writing, it includes 38 holdings, with a 60% exposure to US-based companies. 

So far in 2026, it has fallen 14%. 

However, it appears it has slowly started to turn the corner, recovering 8% during April. 

It may suit investors who are confident of a global tech rebound in the back half of 2026. 

BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

It has been a similar story in 2026 for this ASX ETF. 

The fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that provides exposure to the leading companies in the global cybersecurity sector.

It is down 16% so far in 2026, however has also rebounded in April, rising 5% just this week. 

At the time of writing, the fund includes 42 holdings, with 90% of its weighting towards US-based companies. 

Betashares S&P ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

Moving towards Australian technology, this ASX ETF is surging today, up 4%. 

It still has a long way to go to recover the losses of 2026, as the fund remains down 16% since the start of the year. 

As the name suggests, it provides exposure to leading ASX-listed companies across a range of tech-related market segments, including information technology, consumer electronics, online retail, and medical technology.

Vaneck Vectors Global Health Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH)

Moving to healthcare, this ASX ETF focuses on the largest international companies from the global healthcare sector.

It includes 50 underlying holdings with a 60% weighting towards US-based companies. 

In 2026, it has fallen almost 7%, but has also begun to rebound from late March. 

The post ASX ETFs to target if you expect struggling sectors to rebound appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It makes up roughly 6% of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). 

By comparison, financials and materials make up more than 56%. 

This means that for investors wanting exposure to healthcare shares, looking at an international ETF can be a good option. 

A report from iShares suggests the long-term outlook is positive with policy headwinds easing.

Here are three reasons why now might be a good time to gain exposure to global healthcare shares. 

Policy headwinds easing

According to iShares, US policy uncertainty saw valuations in healthcare suppressed at near 30-year lows in 2025.

However, the policy uncertainty that hung over the sector last year has now largely resolved. 

President Trump's Most Favored Nation executive order has spurred major drug companies to negotiate deals on medication pricing, and investor focus is swinging back to the sector's strong innovation pipeline. 

This sparked outperformance in the last quarter of 2025. 

Healthcare led all global sectors in Q4 – gaining more than 10% after President Trump's Most Favored Nation executive order prompted pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer and Eli Lilly to negotiate pricing with the White House and helped to resolve uncertainty over US tariff policies.

Heavy investment

In the report from iShares, it said clear policy direction, alongside investor concerns regarding a possible technology sector bubble in the United States, prompted significant movement into healthcare investments toward the end of last year. 

In November 2025, ETFs targeting this sector experienced their largest monthly global inflows in five years, attracting US$6.8 billion across the industry. 

With clarity now emerging for what has recently been an unloved sector, we see an opportunity for investors to refocus on the positive fundamentals and long-term supportive trends that may propel healthcare forward in 2026.

Despite gaining momentum, iShares believes the sector is still undervalued.

With healthcare valuations still looking cheap relative to global equities – trading at around a 13% discount despite the recent performance surge – now may be the time for investors to consider adding more exposure to the sector.

AI buildout and defensive safety

While some sectors are being threatened by AI takeover, healthcare shares are being positively impacted by AI.

Industry experts said AI is now increasingly being used in hospitals to automate clinical notes, staffing rosters and billing, freeing up staff for more valuable tasks, and patient care. 

Additionally, AI is beginning to transform the medical research field, accelerating drug development from early studies to human trials and market launch.

The report also reinforced that, as well as offering opportunities to tap into innovation and some of the long-term 'mega forces' shaping the global economy today, healthcare exposure can provide additional benefits for those looking to build a diversified share portfolio.

How do investors gain exposure to global healthcare?

For investors looking to add this sector to their portfolio, here are three ASX ETFs to consider. 

The first is the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ). It tracks the performance of the S&P Global 1200 Healthcare Sector Index. This index includes small, mid, and large-cap biotechnology, healthcare, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals companies.

Another option is the BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: DRUG). 

It is made up of 60 of the largest global healthcare companies (outside of Australia). 

Finally, Vaneck Vectors Global Health Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) invests in 50 fundamentally sound and attractively valued companies with the best growth prospects in the healthcare sector.

The post 3 reasons to target global healthcare in 2026 -expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The report said healthcare stocks have lagged over this period, mostly due to potential US policy effects on the growth rates for biopharma, healthcare plans, and medical technology firms.

The tide is turning

According to VanEck, over the past two years, healthcare stocks underperformed relative to the broader market. 

This is despite catalysts such as innovation and progress in weight-loss drugs.

However, the ASX ETF provider said the tide could now be turning. 

Recently, there has been some clarity on healthcare policies, increased M&A activity, as well as interest from investors who are rotating back into defensive growth and quality earnings due to the volatile macro environment.

Additionally, recent earnings season results from Q3 in the US shows over 80% of reported healthcare companies have "surprised to the upside", and price reactions post earnings have also been positive. 

Looking ahead, the long-term structural growth drivers, including ageing populations, chronic disease management, med-tech adoption, and digital health, remain present.

Emerging tailwinds 

VanEck pointed towards changing policy in the US as one emerging factor set to benefit the sector. 

It said there has been renewed clarity on US drug pricing policy following the Pfizer–Trump administration agreement. 

The agreement included exchanging Medicaid cost cuts for tariff relief. 

The ETF provider said this has lowered market fears of sweeping "most-favoured-nation" (MFN) mandates that would have pressured pricing across the sector. 

Pfizer, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson all experienced price rises after the announcement due to improved sentiment toward the sector.

VanEck believes the sector is now trading at a relative value to the broader market. 

With macro uncertainty at the forefront of investors' minds, many are rotating toward defensive growth, benefiting healthcare broadly and many investors are targeting those companies with quality characteristics and/or wide moats.

How to target global healthcare stocks

Healthcare stocks are relatively underexposed on the ASX compared to sectors like financial (Big four banks) and materials (mining giants). 

This means Aussie investors are often looking overseas to tap into healthcare markets.

The team at VanEck believes long-term structural trends supporting the sector could make it an ideal time to gain exposure to international healthcare stocks, including: 

• The combination of global population growth and ageing demographics.
• Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, which will continue to drive up the demand for healthcare.
• Increasing expenditures in emerging economies that need to close the gap to match the levels of spending in developed economies, as their growing and increasingly wealthy populations will demand it.

For investors looking for diversification into global healthcare stocks, there are several ASX ETFs offering focussed exposure to this sector. 

Investors may consider: 

• Vaneck Vectors Global Health Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) – Gives investors exposure to a diversified portfolio of the largest international companies from the global healthcare sector.
• iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ) – Made up of more than 100 global equities in the healthcare sector.
• BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: DRUG) – Aims to track the performance of the largest global healthcare companies (excluding Australia). 

Another option for investors looking for overweight to the sector, with a broader fund, could consider Vaneck Vectors Morningstar World Ex Australia Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT).

It has a 25.7% allocation to the healthcare sector within a portfolio of attractively priced international 'wide moat' companies with sustainable competitive advantages.

The post Is there a turnaround coming for healthcare stocks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors in the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: MHOT) will receive the largest payment of $10.99 per unit.

Those who hold the unhedged VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) will get the second-highest distribution of $7.56 per unit.

These two ETFs are different in that they do not try to mirror the performance of a major index like the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Instead, the MOAT ETFs track about 50 US shares that have significant competitive advantages, or in other words, a wide 'moat'.

The wider the moat, the more protected a company's brand and its products or services are from competitors in the marketplace.

Here is a summary of VanEck ETFs that will be paying dividends to investors today.

It's payday for VanEck ASX ETF investors!

VanEck Global Clean Energy ETF (ASX: CLNE) will pay 7 cents per unit.

VanEck FTSE China A50 ETF (ASX: CETF) will pay $1.27 per unit.

VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND) will pay 3 cents per unit. Find out more about this ETF here.

VanEck Morningstar Australian Moat Income ETF (ASX: DVDY) will pay 20 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: ESGI) will pay $2.34 per unit.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO) will pay $1.04 per unit.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) will pay 63 cents per unit.

VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT) will pay $1.66 per unit.

VanEck MSCI Australian Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: GRNV) will pay 57 cents per unit.

VanEck 5-10 Year Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX: 5GOV) will pay 11.5 cents per unit.

VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) will pay 2 cents per unit.

Here are a few more…

VanEck Australian Property ETF (ASX: MVA) will pay 42 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB) will pay 40 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR) will pay 51 cents per unit.

VanEck Small Companies Masters ETF (ASX: MVS) will pay 32 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX: QSML) will pay 9 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) will pay $1.23 per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE) will pay $1.02 per unit.

VanEck ETFs among the market's top performers in FY25

According to ASX data, there were two VanEck ETFs among the six best-performing ETFs holding Aussie shares in FY25.

Ranked 4th, the VanEck Australian Banks ETF delivered a total annual return of 24.86%.

Ranked 6th, the VanEck Australian Property ETF produced a total annual return of 22.92%.

Another two VanEck ETFs featured in the six best-performing ETFs holding international shares in FY25.

Check them out here.

The post Invested in ASX MOAT or other VanEck ETFs? It's dividend day! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ex-dividend date for the distributions listed below is today, 1 July. The record date is 2 July.

The payment date is 25 July.

The biggest payment amount on the VanEck distribution list is a whopper at $10.99 per unit.

That will be paid to investors who own VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: MHOT).

Investors in the unhedged version, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), will receive the second-highest distribution of $7.56 per unit.

The VanEck Wide Moat ETFs are a bit different to the norm. They do not seek to track the performance of a major index, like most ETFs.

Instead, the ETFs hold a portfolio of about 50 US shares that have significant competitive advantages, or in other words, a wide moat.

Here is a condensed list of VanEck ETFs and how much each ETF will pay in dividends to their investors later this month.

Payday for VanEck ASX ETF investors

VanEck Global Clean Energy ETF (ASX: CLNE) will pay 7 cents per unit.

VanEck FTSE China A50 ETF (ASX: CETF) will pay $1.27 per unit.

VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND) will pay 3 cents per unit. Learn more about this ETF here.

VanEck Morningstar Australian Moat Income ETF (ASX: DVDY) will pay 20 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: ESGI) will pay $2.34 per unit.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO) will pay $1.04 per unit.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) will pay 63 cents per unit.

VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT) will pay $1.66 per unit.

VanEck MSCI Australian Sustainable Equity ETF (ASX: GRNV) will pay 57 cents per unit.

VanEck 5-10 Year Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX: 5GOV) will pay 11.5 cents per unit.

VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) will pay 2 cents per unit.

Show us the money! Here are some more…

VanEck Australian Property ETF (ASX: MVA) will pay 42 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB) will pay 40 cents per unit.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR) will pay 51 cents per unit.

VanEck Small Companies Masters ETF (ASX: MVS) will pay 32 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX: QSML) will pay 9 cents per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) will pay $1.23 per unit.

VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE) will pay $1.02 per unit.

The post VanEck ASX ETF dividends: How much you'll get and when appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For many people, weight loss is far more than a cosmetic goal—it can feel like a deeply personal and ongoing challenge tied to confidence, health, and overall quality of life.

When the struggle has lasted for years, it's understandable that some individuals are willing to explore every possible avenue, from prescription medications to structured meal planning and lifestyle changes.

In the middle of that journey, the guidance of JM Nutrition can play an important role, as working with a qualified dietitian often brings a more balanced, long-term perspective that goes beyond quick fixes.

In some cases, dietitians may even support a broader medical strategy by discussing whether physician-prescribed weight loss medications could complement nutritional counselling, helping people pursue safer and more sustainable results.

Drugs like Ozempic have taken the world by storm and resulted in massive profits for drug stock makers like Novo Nordisk. As such, it's only natural for ASX investors to want a slice of the action.

And some significant action there is. According to exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider BetaShares, investment bank Morgan Stanley estimates that the global market for obesity drugs like Ozempic could reach US$77 billion by 2030.

However, the ASX is not exactly known for its pharmaceutical stocks. Sure, we have a few respectable names on our ASX boards. But the real global titans in this space – think the likes of Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilley, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson – are all international stocks with either primary or secondary listings on the US markets.

Australian investors can always buy these shares directly from the US markets if they want exposure to these companies. But many ASX investors aren't comfortable with this option.

Luckily, there's an easy, ASX-based alternative – investing in ASX ETFs.

The ASX is home to hundreds of different exchange-traded funds. A few of these specialise in global healthcare and pharmaceutical companies and would make for an easy way for ASX investors to get a slice of the action.

How to use ASX ETFs to buy US weight loss drug stocks

One such fund is from BetaShares itself – the BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: DRUG). This ETF invests in a portfolio of the world's leading healthcare companies, hedged into Australian dollars to take out the impacts of foreign exchange movements.

DRUG holds around 60 different pharmaceutical and healthcare stocks, mostly listed on the US markets. If you buy DRUG units, you're top two holdings in the underlying portfolio will be none other than Eli Lilley and Novo Nordisk. Eli Lilley currently makes up 8.5% of DRUG's weighted portfolio, with Novo Nordisk coming in at 7.1%.

As such, this is a very simple choice for any ASX investors seeking access to these stocks.

But DRUG isn't the only choice for ASX investors looking for weight loss drug exposure. There's also the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ).

This ETF operates similarly to DRUG in offering a portfolio of the largest global healthcare and pharmaceutical stocks to ASX investors.

IXJ also currently has Eli Lilley and Novo Nordisk as its largest holdings, with portfolio weightings of 9.31% and 5.95%, respectively.

VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) is another option to consider. It has a slightly different composition, with stocks like Tenet Healthcare and United Therapeutics Corp occupying the top spots. However, Eli Lilley and Novo Nordisk are still there, with portfolio weighting of 2.51% and 2.46%, respectively.

Being sector-specific ETFs, these funds aren't the cheapest on the ASX. DRUG charges an annual management fee of 0.57%, for example. IXJ asks 0.41% per annum, while HLTH will set you back 0.45% per annum.

But that's the price you'll have to pay if you want easy ASX access to US weight loss drugs and their manufacturers on the Australian stock market.

The post How to invest in US weight loss drug stocks on the ASX appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As such, this drug's potential benefits have already had a big impact on the ASX, with companies that potentially compete with its applications, such as ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) and CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), recently being sold off.

As such, many ASX investors might be hoping to invest in Ozempic. Or more specifically, in Novo Nordisk A/S (CPH: NOVO-B)(NYSE: NVO) shares. Novo Nordisk is the pharmaceutical company that produces Ozempic.

But there's a problem for ASX investors. Novo Nordisk shares are nowhere to be found on the ASX.

The company is Danish in origin. So it will come as no surprise to hear that Novo Nordisk's primary public listing is on the Nasdaq Copenhagen Stock Exchange. Most ASX investors don't even have access to this stock market, with only a handful of select brokerage firms offering access.

However, Novo Nordisk does have a secondary listing on the US markets. Specifically on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). So ASX investors with the desire and access to invest in US shares can buy Novo Nordisk stock under the ticker code 'NYSE: NVO' if they so wish.

Want to buy this popular US stock? Try an ASX healthcare ETF

But there is another way to invest in this exciting opportunity on the ASX. It's by using exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Now since Novo Nordisk shares can be found on the NYSE, one would be forgiven for assuming that a simple US index fund might do the job.

But sadly, Novo Nordisk shares aren't a constituent of either the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) or the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ). Those are two of the most popular US index funds listed on the ASX, but neither holds this company.

But don't despair. There are still ASX ETFs that will allow one to indirectly invest in the Ozempic producer. ASX healthcare ETFs, to be precise.

As we covered back in September, the VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) is one such fund. Holding 51 healthcare stocks from around the world, this ETF is designed to allow ASX investors access to a range of healthcare companies that aren't listed in Australia. As of 1 November, Novo Nordisk was one such company, commanding a portfolio weighting in HLTH's portfolio of 2.17%.

The BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: DRUG) is another similar fund with 69 underlying holdings. However, Novo Nordisk's holdings within DRUG are more than double that of HLTH, with a weighting here of 5.7%.

Finally, let's talk about the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ). This fund operates on a larger scale than those other two healthcare ETFs, with approximately 115 holdings. Despite this, IXJ still offers ASX investors a 4.78% weighted exposure to the Ozempic maker's shares in the portfolio.

So if you're desperate to invest in Ozempic through its maker Novo Nordisk, there are certainly a few options on the ASX to consider today. Even if you don't wish to buy the US or Danish-listed shares directly.

The post How can ASX investors buy the US stock the WHOLE world is talking about? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With analysts forecasting huge growth in demand for drugs like Ozempic over the next decade, there are concerns that ResMed could lose some of its sleep apnoea customer base. That's because research shows that 70% of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients are obese.

The good news is that most analysts believe this is an overreaction and that there's still a huge market for ResMed to grow into outside any Ozempic impacts.

But what about Ozempic and other obesity drugs? Should we be investing in them as well?

The team at Morgan Stanley believes it could be a good idea based on its expectations for explosive growth through to 2030.

Morgan Stanley's European Biopharmaceuticals analyst, Mark Purcell, commented:

Social media activity documenting transformative weight loss, together with the establishment of affordable insurance coverage more quickly than anticipated, has helped drive demand for obesity medicines beyond our expectations. While supply constraints have capped sales growth in the near term, the global obesity market could go from a $2.4 billion category in 2022 to reach $77 billion in 2030, up from our previous estimate for a $54 billion.

ASX ETFs to the rescue

The simplest way to invest in Ozempic and other obesity drugs is to go directly to the source.

In the case of Ozempic, this would mean investing in Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), which is listed on Wall Street.

As for Mounjaro, a diabetes treatment being repurposed as an obesity drug, it is owned by US pharmaceutical behemoth Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE: LLY).

However, if you're not keen on going down this route, then you could look at ASX ETFs.

The VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) gives investors access to 50 of the largest international companies from the global healthcare sector. Its holdings include both Eli Lilly & Co and Novo Nordisk.

Alternatively, the BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: DRUG) could be another way to do it. It is invested in a touch under 70 global healthcare shares, with Eli Lilly & Co and Novo Nordisk making up a total weighting of 12.9% of the portfolio.

The post 'Beyond our expectations': How to invest in obesity drugs like Ozempic with ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.