The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) has risen at almost triple the pace of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months.
For the record, US stocks are up 32% compared to the ASX 200, which is up 12%.
If you're keen to invest in US shares, you can buy them directly online if your brokerage platform has access to them. Or you can buy them via ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
ETFs are a great way to access US stocks because they typically hold large baskets of shares, thereby providing instant diversification in one trade, and you can buy them right here on the ASX.
Easy peasy.
And since US shares have been tearing up the charts, the ASX ETFs holding them are doing great, too.
In fact, a bunch of them hit new 52-week highs just last week.
Image source: Getty Images
Which ASX ETFs provide exposure to US shares?
Well, that's not a simple question to answer.
In short, there are heaps of them, and they all have varying degrees of exposure to US stocks.
The simplest types are ASX ETFs seeking to match the performance of indexes like the S&P 500 or the NASDAQ. Examples include iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) and BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ).
Then there are ETFs that have a particular strategy, as well as only investing in US stocks. But you wouldn't know it from the ETF's name — you have to read the ETF fact sheet to find out the geography spread.
An example is VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), which holds a small basket of 54 US stocks that have sustainable competitive advantages (i.e., moats).
Then there are ASX ETFs with international strategies. They hold baskets of stocks that are listed in several different countries, but in most cases, the bulk of them are in the United States. So, that's your primary geographical exposure.
An example is iShares Global 100 ETF (ASX: IOO), which comprises 77.39% US stocks.
If these types of ETFs are appealing, here are a few options for you to consider.
Click on the ETF name to gain access to its fact sheet or webpage.
ASX ETFs offering access to US stocks
US index fund ETFs
iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
The iShares S&P 500 ETF closed ahead of the Easter weekend at $53.49 and has risen 34% over the past 12 months.
This ETF allows you to adopt the simplest investment strategy ever spruiked by Warren Buffett. Its biggest position is Microsoft Corp, with a 7.17% weighting.
Management expense ratio (MER): 0.04%.
BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)
The NASDAQ 100 ETF was trading at $44.98 at the close on Thursday. The ASX tech ETF has lifted 45% over the past 12 months.
The ETF holds the top 100 non-financial companies on the US tech-focused NASDAQ. Its biggest position is Microsoft, with an 8.7% weighting.
MER: 0.48%.
Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS)
The Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF closed on Thursday at $397.71. It has risen 34% over the past year.
This ETF represents 3,731 American companies, including large-caps, small-caps, and micro-caps. Its largest holding is Microsoft with an unspecified weighting.
MER: 0.03%.
100% US strategy ETFs
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)
The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF was trading at $129.81 at the close on Thursday, having risen almost 21% over the past 12 months.
The ETF holds a small basket of 54 US stocks that are considered to have moats or sustainable competitive advantages.
Its biggest positions are Alphabet Inc and Veeva Systems, each with a 2.73% weighting.
MER: 0.49%.
International strategy ETFs (predominately US stocks)
Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)
The BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF was $29.83 at yesterday's close. It has risen 35% over the past year.
This ASX ETF invests in 150 companies that meet certain criteria based on metrics such as a strong return on equity (ROE), debt to capital, cash flow generation, and earnings stability.
About 67.6% of holdings are US shares. Its biggest position is Alphabet, with a 2.2% weighting.
MER: 0.35%.
iShares Global 100 ETF (ASX: IOO)
Closing at $135.61 on Thursday, the iShares Global 100 ETF has risen 34% over the past year.
IOO holds shares in 102 of the largest global companies in developed and emerging markets, with 77.39% of the portfolio being US shares. Its biggest position is Microsoft, with a 12.42% weighting.
MER 0.41%.
BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI)
The Global Sustainability Leaders ETF closed $15.15 on Thursday. It has lifted 31% higher over the past 12 months.
ETHI holds shares in 300 global companies considered to be climate leaders. Its portfolio excludes industries like tobacco, weapons, alcohol, and gambling on ethical grounds.
The ETF comprises 71.5% US stocks. Its biggest position is Nvidia, with a 10.1% weighting.
MER: 0.59%.
BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)
The Global Cybersecurity ETF was trading at $11.78 at the close of trade yesterday. This ETF has risen 39% higher over the past 12 months.
HACK provides exposure to global companies in the rapidly growing cybersecurity sector.
The ETF comprises 79.8% US stocks. Its biggest position is Cisco, with a 6.3% weighting.
MER: 0.67%.
