Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Register

17 January 2026

Home / 389

24 hot stocks and funds for 2021

There is always doubt about the future, but 2021 will be especially challenging for investing. Equity markets are at stretched valuations as analysts build in optimism about earnings recovery and stimulus in a post-COVID world. The safety of cash and term deposits offers negative real yields, forcing many conservative investors to take on risk they would otherwise avoid. As they seek an elusive combination of defensive market exposure with reasonable yield, they see others enjoying the growth story by buying companies without profits or dividends. Time will tell who wins.

We contacted two dozen fund managers and product providers, and thanks to the following contributors for their views on 2021:

  • Shane Miller, Chi-X Australia
  • Kris Webster, Magellan
  • Sean Fenton, Sage Capital
  • Steven Bennett, Charter Hall Group
  • Tim Canham and Wik Farwerck, First Sentier Investors
  • Aaron Binsted, Lazard Australia
  • Franklin Global Growth Fund team, Franklin Templeton
  • Gemma Dale, nabtrade
  • David Bassanese, BetaShares
  • Michael Murray, Australian Ethical
  • Nandita D’Souza, Citi
  • Perpetual Investments
  • Australian Equities Growth Team, First Sentier Investors
  • Deana Mitchell, Australian Ethical
  • Roger Montgomery, Montgomery Investment Management
  • Peter Bell, Bellmont Securities
  • Jordan Eliseo, The Perth Mint
  • Alex Pollak, Loftus Peak 
  • Jun Bei Liu, Tribeca Investment Partners
  • Marcus Padley, Marcus Today
  • Orbis Investments
  • Vanguard Investments Australia 
  • Adrian Martuccio, Bell Asset Management

We allowed nominations for listed companies, funds or sectors to give a broad range of opportunities, and you should read the recommendations in that context as some people mention their own funds.

Please note, responses were received around mid-December 2020 and some prices may have changed.

Graham Hand

Download here

 

Disclaimer: Highlighting these stock picks does not constitute any offer or inducement by Firstlinks or the contributing individuals and companies to make any investment. This publication is for general information only and has been prepared without considering any person’s objectives, financial situation or needs and you should therefore consider the appropriateness of the information, in light of your own objectives, financial situation or needs, before acting.

Refer to our Financial Services Guide (FSG) for more information at www.morningstar.com.au/s/fsg.pdf.

To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product's future performance.

 

  •   6 January 2021
  • 5
  •      
  •   
5 Comments
George
January 06, 2021

It will be interesting to see the winners and losers from this list in a year. So often, recommendations are made and there is no back-check. Let's hold the forecasts accountable.

Dane
January 07, 2021

I really like Cuffelinks but you would serve yourself well if you refrained from publishing market/asset class return forecasts, which are nothing more than guesses. A large body of evidence suggests they are close to worthless. Admittedly fundies will never day "I dont know' when asked about the future but we shouldn't be enablers. lol.

Mic smith
January 30, 2021

Part of the problem here is that FirstLinks has given a forum to Fund Manager who want to pump the stocks they already own. These guys are doing well enough with their average 1% of assets commission plus usually 20% of benchmark "out performance". They do not need any further help from Firstlinks - or anyone else.

Graham Hand
January 30, 2021

Hi Mic, fair comments, but in the overall balance of its content, Firstlinks devotes relatively little space to stock picking as we prefer to give our readers enduring investment ideas. But the fact is that readers like stock picks, and these articles are highly popular. Little wonder some publications devote their entire content to stock picking, accepting (or ignoring) including the downside you identify of fund managers pumping up their own picks. Doesn't seem to bother them or their readers.

Mic Smith
February 14, 2021

Hi Graham,
Mic here again. Your point that readers love stock picks may well be correct. However your job is to educate readers. There is a whole "finance industry" out there, which when you look objectively, much of it is no more that a predator on the ignorant and gullible. This is what the Hayne Royal Commission was all about attempting to fix. If First Links wants to maintain a position as a genuine credible objective entity that helps the ordinary Australian with its finances, then First Links must do better. Please, start by calling out conflicts of interest.

 

Leave a Comment:

RELATED ARTICLES

400th Edition Special: 45 of the best investment ideas

Hot stocks and funds for 2021

Firstlinks is sponsored by:
banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Australian stocks will crush housing over the next decade, 2025 edition

Two years ago, I wrote an article suggesting that the odds favoured ASX shares easily outperforming residential property over the next decade. Here’s an update on where things stand today.

Australia's retirement system works brilliantly for some - but not all

The superannuation system has succeeded brilliantly at what it was designed to do: accumulate wealth during working lives. The next challenge is meeting members’ diverse needs in retirement. 

Get set for a bumpy 2026

At this time last year, I forecast that 2025 would likely be a positive year given strong economic prospects and disinflation. The outlook for this year is less clear cut and here is what investors should do.

Meg on SMSFs: First glimpse of revised Division 296 tax

Treasury has released draft legislation for a new version of the controversial $3 million super tax. It's a significant improvement on the original proposal but there are some stings in the tail.

The 3 biggest residential property myths

I am a professional real estate investor who hears a lot of opinions rather than facts from so-called experts on the topic of property. Here are the largest myths when it comes to Australia’s biggest asset class.

Property versus shares - a practical guide for investors

I’ve been comparing property and shares for decades and while both have their place, the differences are stark. When tax, costs, and liquidity are weighed, property looks less compelling than its reputation suggests.

Latest Updates

Investment strategies

Building a lazy ETF portfolio in 2026

What are the best ways to build a simple portfolio from scratch? I’ve addressed this issue before but think it’s worth revisiting given markets and the world have since changed, throwing up new challenges and things to consider.

Investment strategies

21 reasons we’re nearing the end of a secular bull market

Nearly all the indicators an investor would look for suggest that this secular bull market is approaching its end. My models forecast that the US is set for 0% annual returns over the next decade.

Property

13 million spare bedrooms: Rethinking Australia’s housing shortfall

We don’t have a housing shortage; we have housing misallocation. This explores why so many bedrooms go unused, what’s been tried before, and five things to unlock housing capacity – no new building required.

Investment strategies

Market entry – dip your toe or jump in all at once?

Lump sum investing usually wins, but it can hurt if markets fall. Using 50 years of Australian data, we reveal when staging your entry protects you, and when it drags on returns. 

Investment strategies

The US$21 trillion question: is AI an opportunity or excess?

It has been years since the US stock market has been so focused on a single driving theme, and AI is unquestionably that theme. This explores what it means for US and global markets in 2026.

Economy

US energy strategy holds lessons for Australia

The US has elevated energy to a national security priority, tying cheap, reliable power to economic strength, AI leadership, and sovereignty. This analyses the new framework and its implications for Australia.

Strategy

Venezuela’s democratic roots are deeper than Trump knows

Most people know Maduro was a dictator and Venezuela has oil. Few grasp the depth of suffering or the country’s democratic history - essential context as the US ousts Maduro and charts Venezuela’s future. 

Sponsors

Alliances

Site Map

About Firstlinks

© 2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.