There is no shortage of exciting growth stocks available on the ASX for investors to buy. The problem is that many of them have significant risks attached. In other words there is seriously high growth potential, but on the flip side there are very real risks. These risks come from operational uncertainties, loss-making status and sky-high priced shares.
Examples of growth companies that have exciting outlooks, but that are also faced with their fair share of risks are iProperty Group Ltd (ASX: IPP) and iCar Asia Ltd (ASX: ICQ). These two firms are trying to crack the Asian property and car classifieds markets respectively, in a similar way to how REA Group Limited (ASX: REA) and Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CRZ) did in Australia.
Given the risks involved with some of these early stage businesses, a less risky option can be for investors to 'pay-up' for profitable growth.
SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK) has been one of the true "new media" success stories, seizing on the opportunity to take market share from the likes of Fairfax Media Limited (ASX: FXJ) and News Corp (ASX: NWS), who failed to grasp the threat the internet presented. SEEK has successfully expanded into foreign regions and the scope for its international businesses to grow further is strong.
Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX) announced earlier this month that dose sales of its innovative liver cancer therapy had increased 27% globally. The stock has rallied 53% in the past year, but if it can continue to growth dose sales at high levels then the share price could continue to run.
