How to invest in financial stocks in Australia

Because what better way to make money than investing in the companies that actually make the money?

Key takeaways

  • 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:

  1. Choose a brokerage. Explore brokerage platforms in Australia to pick a firm that best fits your financial goals.
  2. 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.
  3. Research securities. Use your firm’s research tools to browse different stocks and ETFs.
  4. Place an order. When you’re ready to start investing, place an order to buy your security.
  5. 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:

  1. Zip Co Limited (ASX: ZIP) - 894.74%
  2. Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited (ASX: PNI) - 131.18%
  3. Tower Limited (ASX: TWR) - 107.69%
  4. Judo Capital Holdings (ASX: JDO) - 100.00%
  5. 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.

Name Product AUFST Price per trade Inactivity fee Asset class International
eToro
Exclusive
eToro logo
US$2
US$10 per month if there’s been no log-in for 12 months
ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Exclusive: Get 12 months of investment tracking app Delta PRO for free when you fund your eToro account. T&Cs apply.
Trade stocks, commodities and currencies from the one account and get access to social trading.
CMC Invest
Finder AwardExclusive
CMC Invest logo
$0
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Get $100 trading credit when you transfer $10k+ of either Australian or international stocks to CMC Invest. Only available for the first 50 new clients to participate. Use promo code “100CMC”. T&Cs apply.
Trade over 45,000 shares and ETFs from Australia and 15 major global markets. Plus, buy Aussie shares or ETFs for $0 brokerage up to $1,000 (First buy order of each security, each day - excludes margin loan settled trades).
Tiger Brokers
Finder AwardExclusive
Tiger Brokers logo
US$1.99
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Get 10 no-brokerage US or ASX trades in the first 180 days, plus US$30 NVDA shares (+US$30 TSLA shares ) when you deposit AU$2000 or more. Get 7% p.a. on uninvested cash for 30 days. T&Cs apply.
Trade US, Asian and CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks and US options.
Moomoo logo
US$0.99
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Unlock up to AUD$4,000 AND US$4,000 in $0 brokerage over 60 days. T&Cs apply.
Trade US, Asian and CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks and get access to social trading
Superhero logo
$2
$0
ASX shares, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Sign up with code ‘finder24’ and get US$10 of Nvidia stock when you fund your account with $100 or more within 30 days. T&Cs apply.
Enjoy US$2 brokerage (other fees may apply) on US stocks and buying ETFs as well as $2 fee to trade Australian shares up to $20,000.
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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.

Compare online trading platforms to pick a brokerage firm for your investment account.

Frequently asked questions

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.
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Publisher

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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