It's my view that ASX investors who are looking to brace their portfolios against further geopolitical or economic shocks should resist the siren's song of buying energy shares, oil ETFs or other short-term bets.

Instead, those investors should consider which companies are best placed to protect their earnings bases amid the significant challenges that the world is currently throwing their way.

It's my view that consumer staples stocks are a sector that is best positioned to protect investor capital amid high levels of uncertainty. Consumer staples stocks are companies that produce or sell goods that we tend to need to buy regularly. That includes food, drinks and household essentials, as well as alcohol and tobacco. Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) are all prominent examples on the ASX.

However, I think an ASX ETF is a better option than a single ASX stock in terms of protecting a portfolio against uncertainty. That's why I think the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI) is a perfect fund for an uncertain 2026.

Why this ASX ETF is an antidote for uncertainty

As the name implies, this ASX ETF holds a basket of global consumer staples stocks. These range from food and drink producers like Coca-Cola Co, Nestle and Cadbury-owner Mondelez International and makers of household essentials like Colgate-Palmolive and Procter & Gamble to staples retailers and grocers like Walmart, Costco Wholesale and Kroger. Even our own Woolworths and Coles feature as holdings.

It's my view that these sorts of companies can ride out economic shocks and inflation better than any other sector. We all need to buy food and household essentials on a regular basis. That means that, although painful to consumers, these companies can effectively pass on higher costs without the threat of significant sales losses.

Even if consumers switch en masse from expensive branded products to cheaper home-brand options, this ASX ETF holds a mix of companies with strong brands (Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola) and supermarket stores, mitigating this potential trend.

IXI's holdings are also spread across many different markets, also lowering geographic and currency risk to the ASX investor.

Pulling all of these factors together, and I think we have an ASX ETF that is a perfect investment for the uncertain world we find ourselves in in 2026.

The post This ASX ETF is perfect for an uncertain world appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Instead, the 'States have long been the hunting ground for the world's best growth stocks. That's not surprising when we consider the calibre of long-time winners like NVIDIA, Tesla, Mastercard, Amazon, Alphabet, Netflix, and Microsoft, amongst many others.

It's true that dividends from US stocks don't come with franking credits attached. But that doesn't mean that Australian investors can't obtain a decent income from stocks across the Pacific.

Indeed, the US markets are home to some of the world's most impressive dividend growth streaks. Companies like Coca-Cola, Altria, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsico and Colgate-Palmolive have delivered an annual dividend increase every single year for at least 50 years. That's not something that many ASX share can claim.

Sure, if one buys a US-based index fund, they can expect a lot less in dividend income upfront compared to buying an ASX index fund. To illustrate, the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) is currently trading with a trailing dividend distribution yield of 3.42%. In contrast, the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV), which tracks the most popular gauge of the American markets, will only get you a trailing yield of 1.1% at current pricing.

Can US stocks deliver decent passive income?

Let's assume for a moment that these two index funds pay out the same dividend distributions over the coming 12 months as the past 12. If that's the case, an investor would need to invest just over $700,000 in the ASX index fund of they wished to receive roughly $2,000 a month in passive dividend income. But for the S&P 500 ETF, the amount required for that same level of passive income would stand at just under $2.2 million.

However, there are easier ways to get a higher yield from US stocks. Probably the easiest is by buying higher-yielding passive income stocks. Not all of the highest calibre companies on the US markets are growth beasts. Let's start with some of the dividend stars we listed above. right now, Coca Cola shares are trading with a dividend yield of 2.72%. Pepsico offers 3.51%, while Altria has a whopping 6.32% on the table.

No dividend is safe, no matter how long its streak of annual increases. But it does give us a guide that a company knows how to make consistent profits through all kinds of economic cycles.

A combination of these kinds of shares can easily help an ASX passive income investor get at least as much of a yield form the US markets as is available on the ASX, and perhaps even more.

The post How much do you need to invest in US stocks to earn a $2,000 monthly passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However, there is another place to find dividend stocks that makes the ASX's most consistent payers look like amateurs. The US markets are home to most of the world's best businesses. And that means the world's best dividend stocks.

Here are two of those stocks, and why I think they just might be a pair of the safest dividend investments in the world. As much as any share can be, anyway.

Two dividend stocks with ultra-reliable payouts

Procter & Gamble Inc (NYSE: PG)

Procter & Gamble isn't exactly a household name, in Australia or the US. But many of its dozens of household brands are. They range from Oral-B toothpaste and Old Spice deodorant to Fairy dishwashing and Gillette razors.

These products can be found right around the world. They are trusted brands that consumers don't think twice about buying over and over again. Thanks to the essential nature of this valuable brand portfolio, Procter & Gamble is a great example of a quality, all-weather stock with an incredibly reliable earnings base from which it can pay shareholders dividends. And that makes Procter & Gamble a stellar dividend stock.

To prove this durability, this company has one of the longest streaks of annual dividend increases around, with shareholders getting a pay rise for 69 years in a row (including in 2025).

Procter & Gamble stock last traded on a dividend yield of 2.85%.

Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO)

Our next stock is about as 'household name' as it comes. Coca-Cola needs little introduction as the largest beverage company in the world. Its namesake product is simply as iconic as iconic gets, and one of the most universally recognised products on the planet. But not Coca-Cola Co's only money spinner. Its stable of products ranges from Sprite and Fanta to coffee and energy drinks. This company has been batting away competition and perfecting its advertising for generations.

Again, these products have been around a very long time and are trusted by consumers. They are also incredibly inflation– and recession-resistant. Once more, we can look to Coca-Cola's dividend record for proof of that. This company has one of the longest streaks of annual dividend increases around, with shareholders getting a pay rise for 69 years and counting.

I think it's fair to say that this dividend streak will continue for many decades to come. Coca-Cola stock was recently trading with a yield of 2.79%.

The post These 2 dividend stocks might be the safest income payers in the world appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Berkshire did report some of its latest financials for the quarter ending 30 September 2025 more than two weeks ago. However, this report only told us that Buffett was a net seller of stocks over the quarter. We didn't know exactly which stocks he, or his two investing lieutenants, had actually been buying and selling.

Well, today, that veil has been lifted. Thanks to the company's most recent '13F' filing, we get to have a good look at what's been happening in the Berkshire portfolio.

What has Buffett been buying at Berkshire?

Well, as we've already established, Buffett did a whole lot more selling than buying. Many of Berkshire's top holdings were trimmed. This includes a significant US$10.6 billion sell-down of Apple shares, representing about 15% of Berkshire's position.

Even so, the iPhone-maker remains Berkshire's largest holding, with the company retaining a US$64.9 billion stake. That's roughly 21% of Berkshire's portfolio.

Berkshire also offloaded meaningful chunks of Bank of America, Verisign and D.R. Horton.

Although Buffett, or his underlings, were net sellers of stocks, they were still picking up some shares.

As my Fool colleague Kevin reported earlier today, the most significant new position for Berkshire was in Google-owner Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL). The filing shows that Berkshire initiated its first-ever position in Alphabet over the September quarter. The company recorded a US$4.34 billion position, or just over 17.8 million Class A shares, in Alphabet, as of 30 September.

Who really bought Alphabet stock?

This is a significant development for Berkshire, as Buffett has always shown, and discussed, a reluctance to invest in tech stocks. He famously pined about missing out on Alphabet's success back in 2019, and only initiated a small position in Amazon that same year.

Even the purchase was reportedly initiated by one of Buffett's lieutenants, Todd Combs or Ted Weschler. It's possible, even perhaps likely, that one of those two managers is responsible for the Alphabet purchase. Or perhaps it was a call made by the incoming CEO, Greg Abel. Abel is due to take the reins of Berkshire in January when Buffett sadly is scheduled to step back from the CEO role he has held since the 1960s.

We probably won't find out for a while, if at all.

Some other stocks Berkshire added to over the quarter just gone include Chubb, Domino's Pizza and Sirius XM.

Berkshire's five largest positions remain, in order: Apple, American Express, Bank of America, Coca-Cola and Chevron.

The post Here are the stocks Warren Buffett just bought (and sold) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For one, there are simply more shares to choose from on the US markets. For another, the US is home to some of the best, and most globally dominant, businesses in the world. As such, it is a fertile hunting ground for long-term wealth builders.

So today, let's discuss three US stocks that I think have the potential to make ASX investors a lot of money.

3 US stocks that could help ASX investors build wealth

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META)

It's easy to forget that the US stock behind the ubiquitous social media platforms of Instagram and Facebook is now known as Meta. Despite this company's investments in the 'metaverse' looking less than fruitful, its earnings engines are still firing with gusto. In its most recent quarterly report, Meta revealed that its revenues were up a staggering 26% year-on-year to US$51 billion.

This was thanks in part to more ad impressions, and higher revenue received from each ad. The company also enjoyed an 18% boost in income from operations to US$20.5 billion.

Despite this, Meta stock is currently in a bit of a slump, down almost 23% from where it was three months ago. This could be a good time to get in on this massive and highly influential company.

Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA)

Next up, we have payments stock Mastercard. I've long been bullish on this payments network provider, given the global shift towards electronic payments. Although cashless transactions are the norm in Australia, it's easy to forget that that is not the case in many other countries. But that is changing, and Mastercard stands to be a prime beneficiary from what could be a decades-long tailwind.

This is evident in this US stock's most recent quarterly earnings from late last month. This showed Mastercard enjoying a 17% rise in revenues over the quarter to US$8.6 billion. Operating income was up 26% to US$5.1 billion, while earnings per share rose 23% to US$4.34.

With numbers like that, I think this US stock is an exciting long-term wealth builder.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B)

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is one of the most famous companies in the world. It is a massive conglomerate consisting of entities underlying businesses (such as Dairy Queen and Duracell), as well as part-investments in other stocks (most famously, Apple and Coca-Cola).

Given Warren Buffett's impending retirement as CEO, investors have been, understandably, a little subdued on this company. Berkshire stock is up around 9.6% over the past 12 months. Whilst that's an objectively decent return, it significantly trails the S&P 500's 12.6%.

This might be a good time to buy this company, though. Although Buffett's leadership will be a significant loss, I think he has set up an admirable succession plan. Long-time deputy Greg Abel will take the reins in January, a man who has Buffett's unequivocal confidence. That says a lot, and thus, I am confident Berkshire will be a wonderful investment for years to come.

The post The 3 US stocks could make ASX investors very rich appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This is a perfectly understandable attitude to take. However, I think income investors would be better served by incorporating some international diversification into their income portfolios anyway. There are plenty of global shares out there that have a lot to offer when it comes to dividend income, with many (as you'll see below) putting some of the ASX's best stocks to shame.

Today, let's discuss three global dividend shares that I believe offer significant passive income potential.

Three global dividend shares for the discerning passive income investor

Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO)

First up, we have a company that every reader should be familiar with. Although Coke has a range of subsidiaries around the world (ASX investors might remember the old Coca-Cola Amatil), this is the mother ship, the company that started it all, and officially owns the rights to the Coca-Cola name, brand, and secret formula.

Coca-Cola, as well as this company's other brands, such as Sprite and Fanta, are, of course, highly profitable. But what ASX investors might not know is that their enduring popularity has enabled this company to hold a 62-year-and-counting streak of annual dividend increases for its shareholders. That is something that no ASX share can come close to claiming. Coca-Cola stock currently trades on a dividend yield of 2.89%.

Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ: MDLZ)

You might not have heard of the snack giant Mondelez. But you would almost certainly be aware of several of this company's household-name brands. Mondelez is the name behind some of the world's favourite foods, including Oreos, Ritz, Sour Patch Kids, Toblerone and, last but not least, Cadbury chocolate.

Thanks to enduring demand for its products, Mondelez is also a top global share when it comes to passive dividend income. Its shares are currently on a dividend yield of 3.56%.

Unilever plc (LON: ULVR)

Our final global share worth checking out for passive dividend income investors is British consumer staples titan Unilever. Like Mondelez, Unilever is a name far less well-known than its underlying portfolio of brands. These range from household products like Omo, Dove, Vaseline, and Rexona to foods such as Hellmann's mayonnaise and Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Chances are, you have several Unilever products in your house right now.

Again, the essential nature of these products gives Unilever's profits and dividends a huge level of economic resilience. This stock can be bought at a 3.38% dividend yield right now.

The post Chasing a passive income? Check out these 3 top global dividend shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But legendary investor Warren Buffett has shown time and again that you don't need to start big to end up wealthy. His golden method for investing has been the same for decades — focus on quality, consistency, and compounding.

Warren Buffett's golden method

Warren Buffett built his fortune by buying high-quality businesses, holding them through thick and thin, and letting time do the heavy lifting. This isn't about chasing the hottest stock or timing the market. It is about patience.

While Buffett has made mistakes, his standout winners all share common traits — durability, strong cash flow, and competitive advantages.

Take Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). Buffett first bought in the 1980s and still holds billions worth today. It is a global brand with reliable demand and dividends.

Or look at Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). Despite being a tech stock, it fits Buffett's mould perfectly. It has dominant products, loyal customers, and immense pricing power.

Another classic is American Express (NYSE: AXP). Warren Buffett snapped it up decades ago when others doubted it. Today, it remains a cornerstone of his portfolio thanks to its wide moat in financial services.

Each of these picks shows that Buffett looks beyond the short-term noise. He buys businesses that can compound value over decades.

Easy investing

Don't worry if you don't have time to find picks like the above.

That's because Buffett has long championed the idea of just buying an index fund for easy investing.

For Australian investors, the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) could be the answer.

This ASX ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, giving you exposure to 500 of America's best stocks — many of the exact types of businesses Buffett has favoured throughout his career.

To put the power of compounding in perspective, investing just $250 a month into the iShares S&P 500 ETF with an average 10% annual return could grow to around $180,000 in 20 years. Stick with it for 30 years and it could swell to nearly $520,000. Starting small today could transform your financial future.

Foolish takeaway

Buffett's golden method is simple: invest in quality stocks, reinvest consistently, and give your money time to grow.

Even if you're starting from scratch today, a disciplined approach could put you on the path to serious wealth over the long run.

The post Near-zero savings? Start building wealth with Warren Buffett's golden method appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Not to mention a myriad of ASX and US stocks.

This has been fantastic for anyone already invested in these assets. But it complicates matters for those who have money on the sidelines, ready to invest. Many, if not most, high-quality businesses on both the ASX 200 and the S&P 500 are now trading at levels that most experts might call elevated.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is arguably the local poster child for this problem. However, we have seen shares ranging from National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) to Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) climb to previously unseen heights and valuations in 2025.

Ditto with S&P 500 stocks like Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA), Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN).

So if I had $5,000 to invest in assets today, where would I turn to?

S&P 500? How I would invest $5,000 today

To start with, I would still happily buy broad-market index funds, such as the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) or the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS). These investments, which represent entire stock markets, are still expensive by historical standards.

But I believe buying small chunks of them at regular intervals using a dollar-cost averaging strategy is a sound way to navigate the current investing environment. Saying that, anyone who likes the sound of this strategy has to commit to a plan. It doesn't work effectively if you only buy shares when you feel comfortable about investing.

As Warren Buffett once said, "Keep buying it through thick and thin, and especially through thin".

Aside from index funds, I still think there are stocks out there, on both the S&P 500 and the ASX 200, that present good value. Investors need to do their homework to find them, though.

Yesterday, I discussed a few S&P 500 stocks that I think still represent compelling buying opportunities at current valuations. Those included Google-owner Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL), Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO), Visa Inc (NYSE: V), McDonald's Corp (NYSE: MCD), and McCormick & Company Inc (NYSE: MKC).

Here on the ASX, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) and MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) still look interesting. As does Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) for the long-term investor.

The post Gold and the S&P 500 just hit new records. Where should I invest $5,000 today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Last Friday night (our time), the S&P 500 hit yet another new all-time record high, this one 6,532.65 points. It's just the latest high in a year that has seen dozens of new records for this index.

As the S&P 500 tracks the largest 500 companies listed on the US markets, it's a useful proxy for the entire American stock market.

Although new highs for indexes like the S&P 500 are fantastic for investors who already have substantial sums invested in stocks, it can make life difficult for those investors who have cash sitting on the sidelines, waiting to be useful.

As most ASX investors would know, it's been harder and harder to find quality ASX shares on our local markets trading at attractive pricing. But what about the US markets? Are there still American stocks that might provide value for ASX investors even with the S&P 500 at all-time highs?

Where to find value on the S&P 500 right now

Firstly, ASX investors shouldn't just assume that all of the S&P 500's 'Magnificent 7' tech giants are overvalued, just because they've been on a tear for the past few months (or years).

For example, Google-owner Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) has rallied a significant 19.2% over just the past month. Yet it still trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 25.4.

That's pretty cheap in my view, seeing as Alphabet reported quarterly year-on-year revenue growth of 14% to US$96.4 billion back in July, as well as a 20% spike in net income to US$28.2 billion.

Compare Alphabet's P/E ratio to, say, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) or Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), which are today trading at P/E ratios of 25.5 and 35.5, respectively, and Alphabet looks like a pretty compelling US stock right now.

As a side note, both Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) stock are also trading at a similar earnings multiple to that of Wesfarmers, despite recently posting far better growth numbers.

More US stocks that look interesting at current prices

Another S&P 500 stalwart that I think offers fair value today is Visa Inc (NYSE: V). This company is the most dominant provider of electronic and cashless payments around the world. In July, it posted a 14% year-on-year rise in quarterly revenues to US$10.2 billion and a 19% rise in net income to US$5.8 billion.

Many investors, including myself, expect Visa to continue to enjoy a long growth runway for years to come, thanks to the ongoing global transition to cashless payments.

Visa currently trades on a P/E ratio of 33.5, which again looks pretty compelling compared to what ASX shares are currently offering.

Other stocks that offer decent value to ASX investors right now include Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO), McDonald's Corp (NYSE: MCD), and spice stock McCormick & Company Inc (NYSE: MKC).

The post S&P 500 hits another record. Where I still see value in the US market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The US is, quite simply and indisputably, home to most of the best companies in the world. Think about the goods and services we all use on a daily basis in the workplace. Whether it be Microsoft's Office, Teams or Windows, Adobe's Photoshop or Alphabet's Google Search or YouTube, these products are at the forefront of workplace productivity. And they are all owned by US stocks. It's a similar story at home. Chances are, most readers have some Colgate toothpaste, Gillette razors, Fairy dishwashing liquid or Coca-Cola sitting on a shelf somewhere as we speak.

ASX shares are great, but it is the US markets that really offer investors a chance to own a slice of the best businesses in the world. At least in my view.

So with that in mind, here are ten US stocks that I would buy for my self-managed superannuation fund (if I had one, that is) today.

10 US stocks I would pick for a superannuation fund today

Starting off, let's go for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN). These three members of the 'Magnificent 7' are all dominant in their own spaces. Microsoft has an impressive array of workplace software, which we touched on above. Together with LinkedIn, they form an indispensable part of many workplaces today, which I don't see changing anytime soon. Additionally, it has a large presence in the gaming space with its Xbox brand.

We could say the same for Alphabet. It's hard to overstate how valuable Google Search is to everyday work and life. With a near monopoly on the global search market, Alphabet is a tried-and-true winner at this point. YouTube is also incredibly popular, as is the Gemini AI platform and Google Cloud.

E-commerce titan Amazon is also a sure bet for a superannuation fund in my view. Amazon is globally dominant, with its sprawling online marketplace offering an ever-increasing range of products. This company is also a leader in backend cloud services through its AWS platform, which makes up an increasingly large portion of the company's profits. Amazon is the only company on this list that doesn't pay a dividend. But I think it will start soon, which is enough to get it on this list.

Adding some more US tech stocks 

Continuing the 'Magnificent 7' tech theme, I think NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) is another stock worthy of inclusion in a super fund. Nvidia has the potential to grow at an impressive pace, despite its US$4 trillion size. Being the leader in chip and artificial intelligence hardware is a license to print money in 2025, and Nvidia has proven it can do so.

Moving outside the Magnificent 7 now, let's talk about Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA). Mastercard is one of those companies that doesn't make headlines too often, but has still been growing at a healthy pace for many years now. The global shift to cashless payments continues to march on, and Mastercard is a prime beneficiary of this. This is a phenomenal 'set-and-forget' stock to buy for a super fund.

Some consumer staples stocks for a super fund

As is our next company, the famous Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO). Coke is one of the most successful companies of all time, and given the sheer volume of drinks that it continues to sell, it looks set to remain so. People simply love Coca-Cola, as well as Sprite, Fanta, Mother and the myriad of other drinks in this company's stable. 

One of Coca-Cola's most famous backers is the legendary Warren Buffett, whose company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) is our next stock. Although Berkshire is famous for its massive historical returns, there is an elephant in the room – Buffett's impending retirement. Although the 95-year-old will step down from Berkshire at the end of this year, I think Buffett has set the company up for generations of success, thanks to Berkshire's massive portfolio of high-quality businesses.

Another company that Buffett has invested in before is Procter & Gamble Inc (NYSE: PG), which is our next US stock worth discussing.

Brand power

This company is the business behind the Gillette and Fairy names we discussed earlier, as well as other popular household brands like Oral-B, Tide, Pantene, Old Spice and Vicks. These products are all life essentials, and their brands command a lot of goodwill and trust right around the world. I can't think of better attributes that a US stock can offer a superannuation fund.

Continuing with the consumer staples theme, Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) is another US stock that would do well in a super fund. Walmart is a dominant supermarket chain in the United States, with a growing international presence, too. It has enduring popularity amongst consumers thanks to its highly competitive prices. 

In my opinion, it is highly likely that Walmart will continue to be the first choice of many Americans when it comes to stocking their households. As such, it's a company that I regard as a rock-solid, buy-and-hold investment.

Finally, let's talk about a company we all know and may or may not love. McDonald's Corp (NYSE: MCD) is one of the most famous brands in the world, and is available almost anywhere in the world. Its logo and products have become part of popular culture, and remain enormously popular wherever you go. That makes this US stock a great buy for investors worried about inflation, recessions or other kinds of economic problems.

The post 10 US dividend stocks I'd buy for a superannuation fund today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) make this approach even easier by providing instant exposure to hundreds — sometimes thousands — of companies in a single trade.

If you want to keep your investing simple but effective in 2025 and beyond, the three ASX ETFs listed below could form the backbone of a stress-free, growth-focused portfolio. They are as follows:

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

For most Australians, global diversification starts with the United States. The iShares S&P 500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, giving investors easy access to 500 of America's largest companies. This includes tech titans like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), as well as household names like Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), and McDonalds (NYSE: MCD).

The US market has historically delivered strong returns, and the iShares S&P 500 ETF offers a low-cost way to tap into that growth while benefiting from the stability of blue-chip names across technology, healthcare, consumer staples, and financials.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

Another ASX ETF that makes investing simple is the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF. It focuses on global stocks with strong balance sheets, high profitability, and consistent earnings growth. These are the kind of businesses that often outperform over the long term. It currently includes stocks like Visa (NYSE: V), a payments leader with recurring revenues, and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), a global consumer staple brand with enduring demand.

This fund isn't just about growth — it is also about resilience. By filtering for quality metrics, the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF helps investors avoid weaker companies that might struggle in tougher markets. This ASX ETF was recently named as one to consider buying by the team at Betashares.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

If you're seeking growth, then the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is hard to ignore. It offers exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq. This captures the heart of the global technology sector.

Alongside Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), it includes innovative names like Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), a key player in the semiconductor and networking space. With artificial intelligence and digital transformation reshaping industries, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF provides a simple way to ride some of the biggest secular growth trends in the global economy.

The post 3 strong ASX ETFs to buy for simple investing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

American companies are required to report their latest earnings every three months. That stands in stark contrast to the ASX. Here, six-month reporting periods are the norm.

Thanks to this quarterly schedule, there is always more news and more numbers to digest. There are also more share price swings and roundabouts on the US markets than there tend to be here in Australia.

It's quite an exciting period to be sure. Yes, it's always interesting to see how the likes of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), or Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) are faring. But I personally find it far more fascinating to take a look under the hood of companies like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL), Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA), Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO), and Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX).

As it happens, those four companies are set to reveal their updated books over the next fortnight.

Of those four stocks, Netflix is the first, with earnings set to be unveiled on Thursday, July 17, this week.

Coca-Cola's numbers are due out on Tuesday, 22 July.

Alphabet and Tesla will report the next day.

I'm excited to take a look at all four of these names. As a Coke shareholder, I'm interested to see how this holding has fared over the three months to 30 June.

Ditto with Alphabet. Much has been made of the supposed threats facing this company, given its primary breadwinner – Google Search – is facing competition from AI platforms like ChatGPT.

Some other US stocks I'll be watching this earnings season

But I'll also be watching companies that can be viewed as barometers of the US economy. For example, major American bank stock JP Morgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) is due to report its earnings on Tuesday, 15 July.

Those might just give us an invaluable insight into the health of the US economy. This is arguably crucial at this juncture, as the effects of the Trump Administration's economic policies (tariffs and the like) are still uncertain.

Other 'bread-and-butter' companies might also be useful in this endeavour. That's why I'll also be keeping an eye on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Procter & Gamble Inc (NYSE: PG), Visa Inc (NYSE: V), and Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ: SBUX).

Say these companies begin discussing dropping consumer sentiment or rising costs, thanks to the effects of the new tariffs. This could be something of a canary in the coal mine for the American economy, and it could have ASX implications.

So, over the next few weeks, I'll be keeping a weather eye on the American horizon as some of the world's biggest and most influential stocks reveal their latest numbers. It should make for some interesting reading.

The post US earnings kicks off this week: What I'm watching appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Well, this is one of those situations where there are a few 'right' paths one can take. There are also a few wrong ones, which I would argue at least one of the above scenarios fall into.

Today, let's discuss one of the right paths, at least in my view. It's one that is relatively simple, and would suit all investors at any stage of life.

It's buying two Vanguard ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs). You might have heard of ASX ETFs, or perhaps index funds (which are interchangeable terms in many cases).

They can be thought of as package investments, representing an investment in an underlying portfolio of shares. In an index fund's case, this portfolio tracks a particular index, made up of different stocks.

A popular index here in Australia is the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO). This represents the largest 300 companies listed on our share market, prioritising the larger companies. That's everything from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) to JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD).

This is what the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) invests in. Buying this index fund is akin to buying a small slice of 300 different Australian stocks.

ASX ETFs for beginner investors to consider

If you follow this path, you don't have to worry about picking individual shares that may or may not do well. You are simply buying them all, and taking the market's average return. Studies show that this approach often gets results that beat most professional investors anyway.

VAS, in my view, would make a perfect first investment for an ASX beginner. However, I would also pair it with another ASX ETF and index fund from Vanguard – the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

Australian Shares are great and all. But the ASX represents around 2% of global stocks. It also doesn't include world-dominating companies like Apple, Amazon, Coca-Cola and Toyota.

The VGS ETF does. It invests in a range of countries' stock markets. The United States is the main contributor. But VGS also covers other advanced economies like Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong and Singapore.

This not only gives a beginner investor exposure to many of the world's best companies, it also adds plenty of diversification to a stock portfolio.

Foolish takeaway

I think any beginner investor would be served well by building up a starter portfolio with these two ASX ETFs. They offer everything one would need to build out an effective and diversified investing portfolio.

The post Beginner investors: Start with these 2 ASX Vanguard ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

You might wonder whether you're too late, whether you need a finance degree, or whether your savings will ever amount to anything.

The good news? You don't need a huge lump sum to build wealth on the Australian share market.

With a steady $1,000 a month and a long-term mindset, you can build a substantial portfolio over time with ASX shares — even if you're starting from zero.

Let's take a look at how.

Why $1,000 a month works

Investing $1,000 a month into ASX shares might not sound like it could change your life, but the magic lies in consistency and compounding. Over time, your returns begin to earn returns — and that's when growth can really snowball.

For example, if you were to invest $1,000 each month into ASX shares with an average annual return of 10% (not guaranteed), you would end up with around $200,000 after 10 years. Stretch that timeline to 20 years, and you're looking at more than $720,000.

The earlier you start, the more time you give compounding to work in your favour.

Where should beginners invest?

For beginners, the easiest way to get started is arguably through ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These are low-cost investment vehicles that give you instant diversification by pooling your money with other investors.

Here's how a simple three-part ETF strategy might look:

Domestic core exposure:

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) gives you broad access to the top 300 companies listed on the ASX. This includes names like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

Global growth:

The iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) tracks 500 of the biggest companies in the US. This includes Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO). It's an easy way to tap into global innovation and leadership.

High-potential themes:

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) gives you exposure to Asia's tech giants such as Taiwan Semiconductor and Tencent Holdings. This adds a powerful growth angle to your portfolio.

By splitting your $1,000 monthly contribution across these three ETFs — or similar alternatives — you can build a diversified portfolio that taps into local stability, global scale, and high-growth opportunity.

Be disciplined and consistent

If you can be disciplined and invest $1,000 each month, you'll stand to benefit greatly. That's because this takes the emotion out of the process and helps you stick to the plan even during market volatility.

You will also benefit from dollar-cost averaging, which means you buy more shares when prices are low and fewer when prices are high — smoothing out your cost over time.

Foolish takeaway

The most powerful asset in investing isn't money — it's time. By starting now, sticking with it, and investing in diversified ASX ETFs, you give yourself the chance to build a portfolio that can grow meaningfully over the years.

The post The $1,000-a-month ASX share investing plan for beginners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But even so, I still own quite a few shares that pay meaningful dividend income every year. As it happens, most of these investments have also delivered meaningful capital growth. Today, let's discuss the biggest dividend payers in my personal portfolio.

The three biggest dividend payers in my ASX share portfolio

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

First up is the listed investment company (LIC), MFF Capital. MFF, like most LICs, invests in an underlying portfolio of shares. In this case, it is mostly American stocks. This LIC is run by Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) co-founder Chris McKay. I like Mackay's Buffett-esque habit of buying high-quality companies at decent prices, and holding them for as long as possible.

Some of MFF's entrenched tenants include Mastercard, Visa, Amazon and Bank of America.

What's great about MFF is that it pays a strong, fully franked and rising dividend, despite its low-yield portfolio. Between 2021 and 2024, the company raised its annual (fully franked) payouts from 6.5 cents to 13 cents per share. Today, the company trades with a dividend yield of just under 3.4%, although I am lucky to have a yield-on-cost far higher than that. As such, MFF is one of the largest dividend payers in my ASX portfolio today.

Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VSO)

Next up, we have an entrant in this exchange-traded fund (ETF) from popular provider Vanguard. The Vanguard Australian Small Companies ETF. This index fund tracks around 170 shares from the smaller end of the ASX spectrum. I find it complements a classic index fund like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) that I also hold rather well.

It might not seem like it, but this ETF has paid me some massive dividends in recent years. When this ETF pays out its next dividend distribution on 16 July later this month, investors will have enjoyed a total of $5.37 in dividend distributions per unit. At the current VSO price of $68.40, this equates to a monstrous yield of 7.85%.

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: SCHD)

Finally, a US-based ETF rounds out my portfolio's most lucrative dividend stocks. The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is a fund that holds a large portfolio of US stocks that all demonstrate reliable and rising dividend income potential. It holds a range of shares in this endeavour, including Texas Instruments, Chevron, PepsiCo, Altria and Coca-Cola.

Since SCHD ETF tends to hold only stocks that raise their dividends like clockwork, it can offer the same to its investors. I've only owned this ETF for a year or so, but already, my dividend income has risen meaningfully. Today, thanks in part to its dividends coming in US dollars, it is a major, and welcome, income payer in my portfolio.

The post Here are the 3 biggest dividend payers in my ASX stock portfolio today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Buffett has been at the helm of Berkshire for as long as anyone can remember – 1962, to be specific. Over the subsequent six decades, he has led Berkshire to unprecedented success. He has delivered a compounded annual growth rate of almost 20% per annum for Berkshire shareholders and turned the company into one of the largest in the world.

But time sadly waits for no one. At the age of 94, Buffett has finally decided to close the curtain on what is arguably the most consequential career in American corporate history.

Berkshire's board has just formally determined that Buffett will be succeeded by his hand-picked vice-chair, Greg Abel, on 1 January 2026. Saying that, it has also elected Buffett to stay on as chairman of Berkshire. So he isn't riding off into the sunset just yet.

So, now that we know Buffett's decades-long tenure as Berkshire CEO is sadly coming to an end, it's a great time to look back on some of the best decisions of his career.

Warren Buffett's best bets

Many of Warren Buffett's best investments are his most famous. And his most famous investment is arguably the US$1.3 billion stake that Buffett first started amassing in Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO) back in the 1980s. Buffett has long been known for his love of the classic American soft drink, with the distinctive red cans usually on his desk at Berkshire's annual shareholder meetings.

Buffett reportedly wanted to buy Coca-Cola shares for years. But, in classic Buffett style, he bided his time until the right price came along. Back in his 2022 letter to shareholders, Buffett confirmed that Berkshire received a total of $704 million in dividends alone (up from US$75 million in 1994) from that US$1.3 billion investment.

That means his yield on cost had grown to an astonishing 46.9% of his original investment. It would be even higher today, noting Buffett's quip that dividend "growth occurred every year, just as certain as birthdays".

The US$1.3 billion Coca-Cola position? It's now worth almost US$28.7 billion.

It's a similar story with another famous Buffett investment – his purchase of American Express Inc (NYSE: AXP). Buffett first bought American Express stock in the 1960s, but accelerated Berkshire's buying up until the 1990s. By 1995, the company's stake was also worth US$1.3 billion. In that same letter, Buffett revealed that the dividends from Amex shares had risen from US$41 million in 1995 to US$302 billion by 2022. The total position is today worth US$42.15 billion.

The best until last…

A final winner to note has been one of Buffett's more recent buys. And, despite some selling over the past year or so, it remains Berkshire's largest investment by far. It is none other than Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL).

Despite an aversion to tech companies (more on that later), Buffett first started buying Apple stock back in 2016 when the company was around US$25 per share, and loaded the boat over that year and 2017. He eventually amassed a ~$US$35 billion stake, which subsequently rode a 915% increase in the Apple share price by December 2024. This stake was worth north of US$170 billion by 2023, but Buffett has sold a lot of that since.

Today, Berkshire's Apple investment sits at US$59.67 billion. In the weekend shareholder meeting, Buffett stated that "I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that [longtime Apple CEO] Tim Cook has made Berkshire a lot more money than I've ever made".

The post Warren Buffett's career in review: His best investment decisions appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There are officially 11 different sectors that an ASX share can be classified into. Those 11 sectors are:

• Energy
• Materials
• Indistrials
• Consumer staples
• Consumer discretionary
• Healthcare
• Fiancials
• Information Technology
• Communication services
• Utilities
• Real Estate

Some investors break down these sectors even further. For example, it is common for investors to extract gold stocks from broader materials (or mining) shares, as gold companies tend to dance to the beat of a different drum. But on the whole, these chosen 11 sectors divvy up the ASX quite effectively.

Most investors have a preference for which companies they like to invest in. Today, let's discuss the two that I personally gravitate towards and why.

Which ASX sectors do I like to buy stocks from?

ASX consumer staples shares

First up, we have the consumer staples sector. Consumer staples shares are companies that tend to sell goods and services that we need, rather than want, to buy. These include food, drinks, and other household essentials. They also include companies that produce or sell alcohol and tobacco.

The ASX's two most prominent consumer staples shares are Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). But the likes of Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA), Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV), and Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) are also popular.

As the name implies, consumer staples companies tend to have highly defensive cash flows and dividends that are relatively protected against cyclical economic problems like inflation and recessions. It's for this reason that I like to invest in these companies at the right prices. In my personal portfolio, you'll find Endeavour, as well as a few US consumer staples stocks like McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola.

Technology shares

Information technology shares, or tech stocks for short, are another sector I like to trawl for my next investment. This may be a tad cliched, but it's still my belief that the most innovative, exciting companies on the ASX are currently in this sector. Think of names like TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), and Block Inc (ASX: XYZ).

Tech stocks have a unique advantage on the ASX in that they can often scale at rates that are impossible for companies in other sectors. To illustrate, let's take Xero's accounting software. This software might be expensive to develop. But once it's ready for market, it doesn't cost Xero much to sell it.

If the company sells 20% more subscriptions in a given year, its costs of doing business will barely rise, allowing all of that extra revenue to flow straight to the bottom line. Contrast that with, say, a car company, whose costs are directly proportional to how many vehicles it manufactures.

Unfortunately, there aren't too many ASX tech shares in my portfolio at present, as I haven't been able to buy the stocks I'd like to at the right prices lately. However, I do own a few US tech shares, including Microsoft, Alphabet, Duolingo, and Netflix.

The post My 2 favourite ASX sectors to invest in appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But after these rosy 2024 gains, many ASX investors might be looking for some stable, defensive investments to ride out 2025. After all, the returns of both the Australian and American markets were well above average last year. And the markets do have a sometimes uncomfortable tendency to revert to their mean sooner or later.

With that in mind, let's discuss a pair of defensive ASX shares that I think offer investors stability as we embark upon another year on the stock market.

Two defensive ASX shares to buy for 2025 stability

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

First up is the leading Australian telco, Telstra. We all know Telstra (and may or may not love it), but I think this company's shares represent a solid and stable investment for 2025. The Telstra share price actually had a fairly poor 2024, treading water for most of the year.

Despite this, the company managed to report some solid earnings and substantially grew its dividend. Today, it offers a hefty (and fully franked) dividend yield of 4.42%.

Telstra is also a highly defensive company. Fixed-line internet and mobile services are essential to modern life, and as such, customers won't want to give them up even if their personal financial circumstances deteriorate. That makes this company's earnings and profits highly stable, which should lend comfort to any investor seeking a reliable investment in 2025.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

Our second defensive ASX share is not technically a share at all. Instead, it is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). This particular ETF offers investors a portfolio of global companies that are leaders in providing consumer staples goods. Consumer staples are products that we tend to need, not want. They include food, drinks, household essentials, alcohol, and tobacco.

This ETF houses around 100 of these companies, which hail from several different countries. You'll find some familiar names in the current portfolio, including Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Costco, Kraft Heinz and Nestle.

The inherent nature of these products makes, at least in my view, the companies that produce them very stable investments.

After all, we all still need to eat, drink and run our households regardless of how the economy or stock market is doing. I won this ETF in my personal portfolio as a sleep-well investment, and I think it can lend stability as an ASX defensive share to any portfolio in 2025.

The post 2 ASX defensive shares to buy now for stability appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Many investors love the thrill of finding the next big stocks or building their own stock portfolios from scratch. But for others, a hands-off, passive approach is preferable.

For the latter, index funds are arguably a great choice. An index fund allows investors to invest in hundreds of individual shares, all in one easy ticker code. This provides instant diversification, as well as delivering what could be considered the 'average' return of a market over a long period of time.

If you are disciplined enough, and have enough cash to invest, you can even turn a $100 per week investment into a nest egg worth up to $1 million using these index funds.

Let's discuss how, using two examples.

Building wealth with ASX index funds

The first is the most popular index fund on the ASX – the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

This ASX index fund represents an investment in the largest 300 stocks on the Australian share market. That includes everything from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) to JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH), Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD).

The second is the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV). This index fund doesn't track ASX shares but instead allows ASX investors to hold the largest 500 companies listed on the American stock markets. In this fund, you'll find names like Apple, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Colgate-Palmolive.

As of 30 September, the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF has returned an average of 8.89% per annum over the past ten years. That includes returns from both price growth and dividends.

Over the same period, the iShares S&P 500 ETF has returned an average of 15.8% per annum.

Now, let's assume these rates of return will hold going forward (which is by no means guaranteed, of course). For someone who begins investing $100 a week at age 20, reinvests all dividends like clockwork, and continues to invest every single week, rain, hail or shine, it would get them to a portfolio value of $1 million by the time they are 53 (or after 33 years).

For our 20-year-old investor, that should set them up for a rather comfortable retirement.

However, if that same investor uses the iShares S&P 500 index fund and invests that same $100 a week, it would take just 22 years to get to seven figures. An early retirement might be on the cards there.

Foolish takeaway

Of course, these numbers are completely hypothetical. There's every possibility that either of these index funds doesn't deliver the same returns they have over the past decade going forward.

But what we can count on is the power of compounding, and the effectiveness of consistently investing to build wealth. Those are the powers that we must harness if we wish to succeed in passive investing.

The post These 2 simple ASX index funds could turn $100 a month into $1 million appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The "Oracle of Omaha" didn't get that nickname by accident. In his 60-year career at Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett has had a knack for seeing into the future. At least, it could seem that way, but Buffett doesn't have a crystal ball. Instead, he has a crystal-clear strategy and philosophy that guides every investing decision he's made. It made him a billionaire and it's made a lot of people who have adopted his approach a lot of money over the years.

Buffett believes in disciplined investing and that time in the market beats timing the market. Instead of scouring the market looking for a great deal on a stock, pay more attention to the businesses themselves, and then, "When you find a truly wonderful business, stick with it. Patience pays..."

One factor that makes a business "wonderful" is a fundamental competitive advantage that protects a business from competitors: a moat. As Buffett explained in his 2007 letter to shareholders: "The dynamics of capitalism guarantee that competitors will repeatedly assault any business 'castle' that is earning high returns. Therefore, a formidable barrier ... is essential for sustained success."

Here are two companies that Buffett loves and have significant moats.

1. There is a reason Buffett has stuck around Coca-Cola for so long

If you want to talk about moats, you'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger one that's been maintained for longer than Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). The beverage giant is one of the most recognized brands in the world. It's so ingrained in our culture that large swaths of the South use it as a generic term for soda.

That brand protects it from upstarts vying for shelf space. It means any company trying to dislodge its hold has to spend ungodly amounts of money to begin to match the sort of recognition it has.

It's not just the brand that's valuable, the company is, too. Coke has grown steadily over the years and continues to gain ground. It is a proven, stable business that consistently finds ways to adapt to consumer demands. I have to note that Coke is priced at a slight premium at the moment compared to its competition. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is about 24. That's above PepsiCo's and Keurig Dr. Pepper's 20 and 18. It's a little higher, but not terrible. I still think it fits neatly in a diverse portfolio as an anchor of stability. Don't expect tech-like returns; expect consistency and a healthy dividend yield that grows year after year.

2. Amazon is an amazing company and Buffett knows it, even if he missed its meteoric rise

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has a lot of the qualities Buffett likes, but it's also a tech company. Buffett is fond of saying he doesn't invest in what he can't understand and a lot of tech falls under this category. Now, this is often taken to mean he doesn't understand the technology itself and sure, I doubt Buffett understands the intricacies of computer science, but what he is really saying is he doesn't understand the business. He cannot understand intuitively what the business will look like, say, 20 years from now.

In a sense, he's saying he can't accurately assess most tech companies' moats. It makes sense -- technology progresses in leaps and bounds and a company that appears to have a firm hold on a market can get displaced in a drop of a hat or frankly, the whole market can quickly become obsolete.

Buffett has made exceptions -- Berkshire's largest holding is Apple after all -- but this attitude has driven much of the company's decisions for years and it kept him from making the leap into Amazon, despite being a fan of the company. In fact, it wasn't even Buffett who made the original purchase in 2019, it was another manager at Berkshire. He's thankful Berkshire owns shares now, saying at an annual shareholder meeting that he "blew it" by not investing early on.

Amazon isn't your typical tech company. There is an incredible amount of physical infrastructure, real-world resources, and complex logistics that make directly competing with it expensive and nearly impossible. Beyond this, the company has built a brand that people really trust. In fact, it is the most trusted institution in the country. According to a 2023 poll by The Harris Poll and HarrisX, Americans trust Amazon more than the U.S. military or the Supreme Court. How many brands can say that?

Even if Berkshire only got in in 2019, the stock has just about doubled in that time and the future looks no different. It is pushing the bounds in artificial intelligence (AI), rapidly expanding its adtech business, and continuing to gain ground in e-commerce where it already absolutely dominates. I think Amazon is another no-brainer buy.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post 2 no-brainer Warren Buffett stocks to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.