Finance stocks include banks and financial services companies
Many of Australia's biggest stocks are financial companies
It's easy to invest in finance stocks and ETFs via a share-trading platform
What are financial stocks?
The financial sector is one of 11 stock market sectors and plays a crucial role in a healthy economy. This sector includes companies that provide financial goods and services, like mortgage loans and insurance policies, to commercial and retail customers.
What counts as a financial stock?
Financial stocks can be classified by the following subcategories:
Banking.Diversified and regional banks that hold financial assets for customers and lend to small and medium corporations.
Capital markets. Companies that trade securities, like stocks and bonds.
Consumer finance. Providers of consumer financing and other services, including credit cards, personal loans and car leases.
Diversified financial services. Those that offer a range of products and services, such as banking, insurance and student loans.
Insurance. This industry encompasses insurance policies, from life and health insurance to property and car protection.
Thrifts and mortgage finance. Financial institutions that primarily offer savings accounts and originate residential mortgages.
How to invest in the financial sector
Invest in the financial sector by buying individual stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). When you purchase a stock, you get shares of that company. Stocks have fewer fees but are riskier than ETFs. If you take the ETF path, you’ll get a basket of financial stocks. You’ll probably see higher fees, but it’ll lower your exposure risk.
Here’s an overview of how to start investing in Australia:
Choose a brokerage. Explore brokerage platforms in Australia to pick a firm that best fits your financial goals.
Open an account. Most brokerage firms let you open an account online. Some may require a deposit to get started, while others allow you to add money when you’re ready to begin investing.
Research securities. Use your firm’s research tools to browse different stocks and ETFs.
Place an order. When you’re ready to start investing, place an order to buy your security.
Monitor your portfolio. Log into your account to track your securities.
What are the best finance stocks in Australia?
This is a list of the 5 best-performing ASX finance stocks over the last 12 months1:
Zip Co Limited (ASX: ZIP) - 894.74%
Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited (ASX: PNI) - 131.18%
Tower Limited (ASX: TWR) - 107.69%
Judo Capital Holdings (ASX: JDO) - 100.00%
HMC Capital Limited (ASX: HMC) - 96.74%
This data was last updated on 15 October 2024.
What ETFs track the financial sector?
Take a look at the following financial sector ETFs available in Australia:
VanEck Vectors Australian Bank ETF (MVB)
SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials ex A-REIT Fund (OZF)
BetaShares Australian Financials Sector ETF (QFN)
Betashares Global Banks ETF – Currency Hedged (BNKS)
Why invest in the financial sector?
The financial sector may be an attractive long-term investment because of its potential for higher returns to help you stay ahead of inflation. For example, the S&P 500 Financials Index’s returned 32.1% in 2019, compared to the Federal Reserve’s estimated inflation rate of 2%.
Long-term trends also support growth in the financial sector. When the sector is strong, the economy thrives, which can lead to higher incomes for Australian consumers and bigger profit margins for companies. As Australians accumulate wealth, they need a way to manage their funds and plan for retirement.
Another attractive characteristic of financial stocks is their high dividend yield. The sector currently has a 4.19% dividend yield, compared to the S&P 500’s modest 1.96%.
What unique risks does the financial sector face?
The financial sector comes with considerable challenges and risks.
Regulation. Government red tape and legislative compliance can be a burden on companies, decreasing profit.
Drastic rise in interest rates. When rates rise, lenders generally make more money on the credit they issue to borrowers. But if banks raise interest rates before the economy is ready to adjust to the higher cost of borrowing, demand could drop and potentially trigger a recession. A weak economy can be detrimental to financial stocks.
Litigation. Businesses in the financial sector spend a lot on legal proceedings, which can impact profitability and share prices.
Weakening economy. Financial stocks are extremely sensitive to changes in the economy.
Debt liability. Many financial stocks come with some credit exposure risk. During an economic downturn, borrowers may default on their credit cards and loans, leaving some lenders with a mountain of debt.
Compare stock trading platforms
In order to purchase stocks or ETFs, you'll need a brokerage account in Australia. Compare your options using the table below to find the best fit.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
Bottom line
The financial sector may be a good choice as a long-term investment in a healthy economy because of its generous dividends and long-term growth potential. But keep in mind that it’s one of the most volatile sectors of the stock market and comes with inherent risks.
REITs are not included in the financial sector. REITs left the category in 2016 to form its new, separate sector of the stock market.
Financial stocks are cyclical — their performance is generally tied to the health of the economy, which makes them vulnerable to the ups and downs of the business cycle.
Low interest rates attract more borrowers, which can lead to more capital projects, investments and more economic growth. Higher interest rates translate to more banking profit but may discourage spending.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
Tom Stelzer is a publisher and writer for Finder, covering investing and cryptocurrency.
He previously worked for Finder as a writer in Australia and the UK, covering things like personal finance, loans, investing, insurance as well as small business and business loans.
He has a Master of Media Arts and Production and Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney. See full bio
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