How to buy Apple shares in Australia

Apple has been at the top of their industry for many years, and has dominated the stock market, being one of the first companies to reach the trillion dollar market-cap milestone. So, if you are interested in investing in Apple, we discuss how it can be done.

What is Apple?

Apple is a tech company that was created in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne. Ron Wayne famously sold his 10% share of the company several years later for USD$800. Today, Apple is one of the biggest companies in the world and Ron Wayne’s share would be worth somewhere in the billions! Eeeek!

Apple is known for its constant innovation and creativity in the tech field. Some of their most popular and pioneering products include the Mac, iPhone, iPod and the Apple Watch. In the future, the company is also looking at branching out into self-driving cars.

How to buy Apple shares in Australia

1. Compare share trading platforms

Apple trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the stock ticker AAPL. To access Apple shares you’ll need to find a broker that allows you to trade on the NASDAQ. There are several brokers in Australia that provide access to international shares such as Apple. When comparing online share trading brokers you should consider the fees, functions and whether the platform is easy to use.

Related article: How to buy US stocks in Australia

2. Open and fund your brokerage account

Once you have decided on a platform you can open your account. Typically, you will need at least two forms of identification and a bank account to link your brokerage account with. When your account is set up you will need to transfer some money into your brokerage account so you can buy AAPL shares.

3. Evaluate ’s financial health

It is always a good idea to seriously consider a company before investing in it. There are a number of ways to analyse a stock, but a good place to start is to have a clear idea of what the company does, how they make money, how they intend to grow the company and what their current financial position is.

4. Decide when to buy AAPL stocks

Timing the market is notoriously difficult, but one thing to keep in mind is the mantra: ‘buy low, sell high’. You may not be able to tell which direction a stock may go, but by looking at some historical data you may get an idea of whether a stock is currently trading low or high.

5. Determine how much you want to invest

Nothing is ever guaranteed, especially on the stock market. Even if you thoroughly analyse a stock and attempt to buy when prices are low, you still might make a loss. So, another safety measure you can take is to only invest what you can comfortably afford to lose.

6. Buy your AAPL shares

If you are pushing ahead and ready to purchase AAPL shares it should be fairly straightforward. Log into your investment platform, select the shares that you wish to buy and, either how many shares you’d like or the amount you wish to spend. Keep in mind you will need enough funds in your brokerage account to buy the shares and cover the brokerage fees.

You can choose to buy the shares at market price or put in a limit order. A limit order is where you can dictate the price you wish to buy at, and if it reaches that price in the desired timeframe, the shares will be bought on your behalf.

7. Monitor your investment overtime

Depending on how long you intend to invest for you may want to monitor your investment regularly. However, if you have a long-term outlook and don’t intend to sell your shares for a number of years, you may want to block out all the noise and ignore the market movements until closer to when you would be looking to sell. Often, taking the emotions out of investing can help you avoid making costly mistakes.

How to sell AAPL shares

When it comes to selling shares, it is much the same as buying. Select the amount you wish to sell and if you sell during market time you will receive the market price. Outside of this time you can set a limit order and decide the price you wish to sell at.

Investing in Apple with an ETF

If your broker doesn’t currently include international shares as part of it’s offering another option is to look at ASX ETFs that invest in Apple as part of their portfolio, some you may want to explore are: Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS) and BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (NDQ). These ETFs and others like it should be available through all Australian brokers. It’s a good idea when looking at ETFs to check what makes up the portfolio and how they are weighted.

Related article: How to buy US stocks in Australia

Should I invest in international shares?

There are plenty of benefits to investing overseas, including access to some of the largest companies in the world, like Apple and the ability to diversify your portfolio. Another advantage is the cyclical patterns of overseas markets that, at times, move in the opposite direction of the Aussie share market which can help smooth out your returns. There are a few downsides to be aware of as well, such as the currency exchange fees, the different rules and regulations, Australian tax laws, and possible economic and political threats.

Related article: Risks and benefits of investing overseas.

If you are thinking of investing in Apple you should first thoroughly research the company to ensure that it aligns with your investment goals and strategy. Also, bear in mind that past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

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