Shares vs. property: Record stock ownership amid landlords' exit (2024)

Household wealth from direct investment in shares has reached a record high of $1.4 trillion.

This record comes amid reports of landlords selling their properties at the highest rate in five years.

We investigate.

Household wealth through the direct ownership of shares and other equity increased by 3.8% or $51.8 billion in the December quarter, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

That's the fastest pace of growth since the December 2020 quarter. Back then, the ASX 200 was in the midst of a strong recovery from the COVID-19 market crash in February.

According to reporting in the Weekend Australian, young investors are turning to shares vs. property due to the affordability of this investment option.

And many are diversifying beyond the ASX to US shares.

The average age of investors using the online trading app Pearler to buy shares is 35 years. Recent data shows users' exposure to US shares has increased by 138% over the past two years.

US shares have certainly outperformed ASX 200 shares recently, with the S&P 500 Index(SP: .INX) up 15.3% compared to the S&P/ASX 200 Index(ASX: XJO) up just 1.27% since April 2022.

Pearl co-founder Nick Nicolaides said:

Investors these days are not tied to the same 20 or 30 stocks on the ASX.

And for younger Australians, their wealth in 20 or 30 years is going to be driven far more by capital growth than dividends, so net net it's a positive thing that this generation is getting more exposure to international markets.

Most of Pearlers users access US shares via exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

We recently took a look at which ASX ETFs give Aussie investors access to US stocks.

The best performer among the ETFs we profiled was the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF(ASX: NDQ), up 45% over the past year.

The US is also home to the Magnificent Seven stocks, which includeNVIDIA,Microsoft,Amazon, and Meta Platforms,and also at the forefront of one of today's biggest investment trends, AI.

Fool analyst Chris Copley said significant price gains and earnings growth among these seven stocks were a key reason why US shares did better than ASX 200 shares last year.

Why are landlords selling?

The ABS household wealth figures showed a 1.77% increase in the value of residential land and homes directly owned by Australians. The value rose by $188.5 billion to $10.66 trillion.

Property was the largest contributor to the quarterly growth rate of overall household wealth.

As we reported recently, shares vs. property delivered very similar returns over the past century at about 11% per annum.

Although more young investors may be turning to shares vs. property, Australians overall are still very interested in real estate investment as a means of wealth generation.

The latest ABS lending finance figures showed a 21.5% year-over-year surge in real estate investment lending compared to a 9.9% bump for owner-occupier purchases.

Agents are seeing more investors in the market due to skyrocketing rents and impressive capital gains.

However, The Australian reports PropTrack research for the March quarter shows a larger number of landlords are selling their real estate investments than usual, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

3 in 10 sales are ex-rental properties

Three in 10 homes sold on property portal realestate.com.au, owned by REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) in the March quarter were ex-rentals, a near doubling of pre-pandemic levels.

About 36% of recent sales in Sydney and Melbourne were investment properties compared to 34.9% in Perth and 33% in Brisbane.

Industry experts say some landlords are getting out due to increased state taxes, higherinterest rates andinflationary pressure on holding costs such as insurance.

Others say some landlords are simply cashing in on high-performing investments after long periods of ownership.

For example, Perth and Brisbane are among the best-performing markets today. House prices are up 20% and 15.9%, respectively, over the past 12 months.

These cities have the third and fourth highest rate of ex-rental sales, according to PropTrack.

ATO statistics also show Australians above the age of 60 represent the largest cohort of landlords.

It is inevitable that as more baby boomers age, some will sell their real estate investments for theirretirement.

We looked at whether you'd make more money in dividends than rent if you sold your investment property, as well as whether ASX property shares are a good alternative to bricks and mortar.

Shares vs. property: Record stock ownership amid landlords' exit (2024)

FAQs

Shares vs. property: Record stock ownership amid landlords' exit? ›

Household wealth from direct investment in shares has reached a record high of $1.4 trillion. This record comes amid reports of landlords selling their properties at the highest rate in five years.

What is the difference between stocks and property? ›

Stocks are highly liquid. While investment cash can be locked up for years in real estate, the purchase or sale of public company shares can be done the moment you decide it's time to act. Unlike real estate, it's also easier to know the value of your investment at any time.

What is the difference between a stock and a share? ›

Stocks represent part ownership of a company A stock is a financial instrument representing part ownership in single or multiple organizations. A share is a single unit of stock. It's a financial instrument representing the part ownership of a company. Shares are categorized into common shares and preference shares.

Are shares a form of property? ›

Financial property - includes financial instruments and documents, like cash and shares.

What is the difference between equity and shares? ›

Key Differences Between Equity and Shares

Equity is the ownership stake in the entity or other valuable business component, while shares are the measurement of the ownership proportion of the individual in that business component.

Are stocks better than rental property? ›

As mentioned above, stocks generally perform better than real estate, with the S&P 500 providing an 8% return over the last 30 years compared with a 5.4% return in the housing market. Still, real estate investors could see additional rental income and tax benefits, which push their earnings higher.

How do shares work in property? ›

With tenancy in common, multiple owners hold individual deeds for a percentage of the property, and shares do not have to be equally split. As a co-owner, you have the right to transfer your share of the property to anyone you choose through your will. You can also sell your shares without the consent of other tenants.

Are shares the same as ownership? ›

Shares are the equivalent of ownership in a corporation. Because they represent ownership, not debt, there is no legal obligation for the company to reimburse the shareholders if something happens to the business. However, some companies may distribute payments to shareholders through dividends.

What is an example of a stock and a share? ›

For example, if you were to say, "I own stock in Apple (AAPL 0.38%)," it tells us that you are invested in Apple stock and therefore own a small portion of the equity in the company. On the other hand, if you say, "I own 100 shares of Apple," it conveys the exact number of ownership units you have.

Do shares mean you own the company? ›

A share is a unit of ownership delivered by a capital company. In most cases, it is a commercial company with a limited liability. Holding one of several shares – in other words, being a shareholder – means that you own a part of the company's capital but you are not held personally liable for the company's debts.

Are shares of stock considered personal property? ›

Personal property can be characterized as either tangible or intangible. Examples of tangible personal property include vehicles, furniture, boats, and collectibles. Stocks, bonds, and bank accounts fall under intangible personal property.

Are stocks part of your estate? ›

Yes. If the stocks were held in a jointly owned account or a beneficiary was listed on the account, shares will usually avoid probate.

Are stocks treated as property? ›

Personal Property

Investment property such as stocks and bonds are considered capital assets. All personal property you own are considered capital assets too. This may include your home, car, furniture, cell phone, collectables, and any other personal property.

What is the difference between owners equity and shares? ›

Key Takeaways. Equity typically refers to the ownership of a public company or an asset. An individual might own equity in a house but not own the property outright. Shareholders' equity is the net amount of a company's total assets and total liabilities as listed on the company's balance sheet.

Are shares and stocks the same thing? ›

Stock vs share: Key differences

Definition: 'Stock' represents the holder's part-ownership in one or several companies, while 'share' refers to a single unit of ownership in a company. For example, if X invests in stocks, it means that X has a portfolio of shares across different companies.

Is equity the same as stock ownership? ›

The term “equity” refers to shares of stock, or it often may refer to stock options. Stock options allow you to buy a specific number of shares at a certain price point after a particular amount of time. Stock options don't represent ownership unless your right to buy them has vested.

Is stock considered property? ›

Personal property can be characterized as either tangible or intangible. Examples of tangible personal property include vehicles, furniture, boats, and collectibles. Stocks, bonds, and bank accounts fall under intangible personal property.

What makes more millionaires stocks or real estate? ›

It's harder to get rich off stocks than it is to get rich off real estate. The main reason why is due to the absolute amount of money you need to risk to get rich in stocks. Even if your $5,000 stock investment goes up 50%, that's only $2,500.

What property type is stock? ›

Intangibles do not usually have physical forms, other than certificates or accompanying records. These include assets such as patents, trademarks, stocks, and bonds. Both tangible and intangible property may be subject to capital gains taxes.

What does it mean when a property is in stock? ›

PROPERTY IN STOCK means, regardless of the situs thereof at any particular time, (a) all inventory of raw materials, goods in process, finished products and stock in trade of any nature and description, whether or not the same is held for let or hire, leasing, resale or otherwise, (b) all goods and materials used in or ...

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