Is the niggling feeling about doing your Christmas shopping starting? Just a little over two weeks away from the big day and you haven't even begun?
Oops! But here's your solution. Buy the gifts that really keep on giving and – one thing even better – do all your shopping online! What Amazon-like online retailer is this?
The ASX. It may not light up little Johnny's eyes to find out he now has shares instead of a big fire truck…but it may be the gift that starts your children on the path of wealth and financial freedom.
You want stock in companies that will last longer than the wrapping paper.
For your spouse:
They love to travel and stay in relaxing hotels, so the perfect stocking stuffer is Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT). It's the leading travel agency chain in Australia and is expanding into Asia, the US and the UK. Its award-winning FCm Travel Solutions corporate travel business has grown through several recent acquisitions. Also, Flight Centre has entered the tour operator business by buying two tour companies, one in Vietnam and the other in the UK, to add another income stream and better offer total package travel services. The stock trades at 14 times earnings and offers a 4.0% fully franked dividend.
For your daughter:
Because she loves her doll house and has all the accessories, REA Group Limited (ASX: REA), the operator of realestate.com.au, could start her on a path of both share and property investing. The company is the market leader for property search websites and a serial high-double digit earnings grower. It has recently made a big step to enter the US property listing and advertising market (the world's largest). Together with News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS), it bought out Move Inc (NASDAQ: MOVE), the third-largest property search company in the US that operates move.com and realtor.com. The growth potential makes this a good long-term pick.
For your son:
He may really like cars, but he needs tools and accessories in the future and the perfect gift is stock in Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL). It has brands like Supercheap Auto, BCF, Rebel Sports and Amart Sports and has been a long-term grower. In the past year, retail trade in general has been sluggish and this company hasn't been spared. The stock went from about $14 to $7, but has rebounded slightly to $7.72, so it could be in bargain territory if retailing picks up soon. It pays a big 5.1% fully franked yield.
