Do you know how to invest in foreign stocks? They’re stocks of foreign companies that can be purchased overseas right from the comfort of your home. They help you expand and invest in different stock options across the globe. Foreign stocks aren’t limited to a particular country or nation. One of the major reasons why investors want these stocks is because of diversification. Investors buy foreign stocks mainly to diversify their portfolios to build one that yields the highest results. However, before you invest in them, you should know how to get started.
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Introduction on How to Invest in Foreign Stocks
Foreign stocks are those issued by a company in or outside the U.S. They may be listed on different exchanges worldwide, such as in the U.S., in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Foreign stocks can be referred to as ‘global shares.’
They can be tracked by indexes such as the S&P Global 1200, which helps you invest in them without necessarily investing in the particular stock itself, but the index contains a pool or basket of such stocks.
If you’re dealing in foreign stocks, you’re paying a big fee bill. They have high international costs when you invest in them. And you might have to pay in foreign currencies. Moreover, in foreign stocks, you’ll also automatically worry about the exchange rate because if you’re based locally and are investing in the U.S. market, you might have to pay in dollars.
Therefore, it’d automatically become more expensive to buy foreign stocks. Furthermore, suppose you want to invest in foreign stocks. In that case, you’ll most likely have to get registered through a broker or trading house such as Fidelity, ETrade, or Ameritrade because direct trading can have its limitations.
However, their advantages outweigh their disadvantages. If you are interested in investing in foreign stocks, below is a guide on how to invest in them and what you need to know before you get started.
Diversification
Investing in foreign stocks gives you the privilege of diversifying your portfolio. They are, in fact, the number one priority of a well-diversified investment portfolio. Why? Because they have high growth potential. Foreign or overseas stocks also have higher returns and can offer low volatility in stock portfolios.
There are different ways to invest in foreign stocks. One of them is through ADRs. A few popular ADRs today are the Alibaba Group (BABA), JD.com (JD), and Gold Fields Ltd (GFI). You can also invest in foreign stocks through ETFs, global mutual funds, and global depositary receipts (GDRs).
You can use new startup apps to invest as well. Startup apps such as Webull app, GROWW, and Vested Finance let you install them and invest in foreign stocks directly.
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Which Broker Is Best for International Trading?
Another way to invest in foreign stocks is through a broker. If you’re part of an emerging market such as India or Russia, where people have a lot of money and want to invest, you’ll have to open an account with a foreign broker to buy foreign stocks.
Foreign stocks are registered in their parent country. If you’re investing through a foreign broker, ensure that the broker has a tie-up with the other foreign broker.
Also, when investing abroad, have the whole plan laid out and open so that you know your possibilities and limitations before investing.
And make sure you’re happy with the broker you choose. Not only happy but comfortable.
Popular foreign stock brokers are:
- Charles Schwab
- ETrade
- Fidelity
- TD Ameritrade
- Ally Invest
- Firstrade
- TradeStation
- Interactive Brokers
- Direct Investments
You can also buy them directly or through direct investments via Interactive Brokers. Interactive brokers have high charges, for instance, $10,000 a month as the brokerage fee. Such brokers may also require a minimum deposit of $5000 before you start trading. However, once you start, you will get more freedom and the ability to invest in foreign stocks freely.
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Invest in ETFs
Another way to invest in foreign stocks is through ETFs. Many popular ETFs grant you access to foreign stocks through direct investments in them rather than having to buy individual foreign stocks directly.
ETFs help you diversify by investing in stocks, bonds, and commodities. Did you know ETFs also help you gain exposure to many markets while a particular foreign stock may be limited to one country?
ETFs cover many investment categories, such as investment styles, market capitalization, and geographical regions.
Popular ETFs around the world today are the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), Invesco Q ETF (Q), Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT), Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG), Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA), iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV), iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and others.
Final Thoughts: How to Invest in Foreign Stocks
Investing in foreign stocks is a popular practice amongst investors today. It has many benefits; however, there are certain drawbacks, too. For example, there might be higher initial charges (initial fee, etc.). The profits could be subjected to the currency exchange rate of the country you are investing in, which might be another disadvantage of investing in foreign stocks.
There might also be a limit on how much you can invest in foreign stocks if you are investing directly, which gives you limited freedom compared to local/domestic stocks. However, foreign stocks give you exposure and allow you to invest in more profitable companies, which are better advantages of investing in them.
Overall, investing in foreign stocks is a healthy practice. Before investing in them, you should know a couple of things. You should know if you will get full access to foreign stocks through the broker you choose to start trading in these stocks. You should also know about the effect of the exchange rate vs. the dollar on the stocks of the country you are investing in. Finally, you should also know about the geopolitical and economic conditions of the country you invest in before investing in foreign stocks.
