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Raising capital: debt vs. equity

Explainers

Sometimes, companies need extra cash for their business. Getting this extra cash is called raising capital, and they generally do this through debt or equity.

Published date 9 May 2022

6 min read

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Investor Journeys

How to review your investment portfolio
Published date 3 May 2022
5 min read
If you’re investing for the long term, it usually makes sense to review your portfolio every now and again to check you’re still on track to achieve your goals.
Market roundup: Continued global uncertainty, but increasing share market stability
Published date 27 April 2022
7 min read
In this monthly series, we ask share market commentators to give their take on the state of global share markets.
Investor Journeys—Liz
Published date 21 April 2022
4 min read
Liz is a collector of hobbies; from designing and sewing her own clothes, to houseplants and video games. Her latest obsession? Investing.
Investor Journeys—Rob and Lach
Published date 14 April 2022
6 min read
Meet Rob and Lach, the hosts of Unlikely Investors, a podcast series by Pedestrian Group and Sharesies. They shared their own adventures into investing.
“Buy low, sell high”: what is it in practice?
Published date 13 April 2022
5 min read
In investing, we hear the phrase “buy low, sell high” a lot. But when we dig into it, you can see that it’s a lot more complex than just four words!
Why invest?
Published date 11 April 2022
3 min read
There are lots of different reasons why people invest. It can be personal, and is often tied to your wider life and financial situation.
Investor Journeys—Alyssia
Published date 31 March 2022
3 min read
On top of building a new house with her partner, 22-year-old med student Alyssia shares how she’s building an investment portfolio using the Sharesies platform.
What’s a blue chip?
Published date 31 March 2022
4 min read
We explain what a blue chip is, why people invest in blue chips, and what tradeoffs you make when you invest in them.
Rights offers: what you need to know
Published date 30 March 2022
8 min read
Rights offers are one way that companies raise money. Let’s look at how they work, what they mean for investors, and how to decide whether to take part in one.
Investor Journeys—Kate
Published date 25 March 2022
3 min read
We sat down with Kate to discover why she started investing and how the Sharesies platform is helping her to reach her long-term financial goals.
Market roundup: How Russia and Ukraine are affecting global markets
Published date 16 March 2022
6 min read
In this monthly series, we ask share market commentators to give their take on the state of global share markets.
Investor Journeys—Hannah
Published date 16 March 2022
4 min read
When 29-year-old firefighter Hannah isn’t throwing some serious tin around at the gym, she’s working on building long-term wealth using the Sharesies platform.
Why invest overseas?
Published date 7 March 2022
4 min read
Let’s look at why you might invest in overseas companies and funds, and what you might consider when looking to invest in different-sized economies.
Investing ethically: it’s up to you
Published date 7 March 2022
5 min read
Let’s have a look at how you can invest ethically, and what to look for when you’re investing with ethics in mind.
What’s capital, and why does it matter?
Published date 7 March 2022
4 min read
Capital is one of the core ideas of investing. It’s one of the reasons why we, as investors, have opportunities available to us.
Market roundup: Climbing inflation and the elusive COVID ‘bounce-back’
Published date 28 February 2022
5 min read
In this series, share market commentators give their take on global markets. First up, the Motley Fool’s Scott Phillips chats with Sharesies’ Brendan Doggett.
What’s an investment horizon?
Published date 23 February 2022
3 min read
How long you plan to invest for—aka a ‘time horizon’ is an important decision. Generally, this has a big impact on the type of things you invest in.
What's dollar-cost averaging?
Published date 23 February 2022
3 min read
Dollar-cost averaging is when you choose to invest a certain amount on a particular investment regularly, regardless of whether the share price is high or low.
Investing in thematic exchange-traded funds
Published date 17 February 2022
8 min read
What's a thematic ETF? How do you invest in thematic ETFs? We chat with BetaShares, ETF Securities, and VanEck to find out more.
Top resources to start investing in 2022
Published date 15 February 2022
2 min read
Keen to learn more about investing but not sure where to start? We’ve pulled together a list of resources for taking the first steps on your learning journey.
What does it mean to be an investor?
Published date 18 January 2022
4 min read
Let’s look at what it really means to be an investor, and how you can use investing to connect to your underlying ethics, values, and preferences.
Helpful terms for comparing companies
Published date 13 January 2022
6 min read
So, you want to invest in individual companies—but how do you choose which ones to invest in? Understanding these terms will help you decide!
Who’s in charge of a company?
Published date 13 January 2022
4 min read
As an investor, it’s useful to understand who’s in charge of running a company. After all, the company succeeds or fails based on their decisions.
Is it too late to start investing?
Published date 13 January 2022
4 min read
Think investing for the long term is just for people in their 20s or 30s? Well, we’ve got some great news: no matter your age, you might benefit from investing.
What are compound returns?
Published date 13 January 2022
6 min read
Compound returns are a great reason to invest—if you can get them. They’re also a great example of how investing helps make your money work for you.
The easy investing strategy you didn’t know about
Published date 5 January 2022
3 min read
Who knew setting-and-forgetting counts as an investing strategy? We cover how it may help you reach your financial goals.
An intro to cryptocurrency
Published date 21 December 2021
3 min read
Let’s cover what you might consider if you’re looking to buy and hold crypto—like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and thousands of others—and the different ways to do it.
A deep dive into investment liquidity
Published date 9 December 2021
5 min read
Let’s open the floodgates on what liquidity is, what it’s determined by, and the risks associated with it. Full steam ahead!
Investor Journeys—Maryann
Published date 3 December 2021
4 min read
We sat down with the 31-year-old mother-of-one to chat about her investing journey and how the Sharesies platform fits in with her financial goals.
Is it better to save or invest?
Published date 15 November 2021
4 min read
When it comes to managing your money, should you be saving, investing, or both?
Investment jargon explained
Published date 15 November 2021
5 min read
Let’s break down some of the investment jargon you’ll likely come across over and over again.
What’s an IPO?
Published date 15 November 2021
7 min read
An initial public offering (IPO) is a process that a company goes through to become ‘listed” on an exchange. Once listed, people can buy shares to invest in it.
Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for US investments
Published date 15 November 2021
4 min read
We’re pulling back the curtain on what happens when you place a buy or sell order for US investments through the Sharesies platform.
Behind the scenes: Share prices for companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Published date 15 November 2021
4 min read
Let’s look at how share prices work for companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the Sharesies platform.
Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for Australian investments
Published date 15 November 2021
4 min read
Let's look at what happens when you place a buy or sell order for investments on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) through the Sharesies’ platform.
Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for NZ investments
Published date 15 November 2021
4 min read
Let’s dive into what happens when you place a buy or sell order for investments listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX).
Investor Journeys—Hannah
Published date 19 October 2021
4 min read
Hannah didn't know about investing growing up. But now she’s become a confident investor through the Sharesies platform.
Investor Journeys—Dave
Published date 7 October 2021
4 min read
Dave owns a beautiful home in Melbourne and is building a Sharesies portfolio with his two sons in mind. We had a quick chat about why he started investing.
Investor Journeys—Annabelle
Published date 6 October 2021
4 min read
Having once been bogged down by buy-now-pay-later debt, Annabelle is now on the road to building an investment portfolio that she’s proud of.
Annual reports: what they can tell you about a company
Published date 6 October 2021
5 min read
Companies share heaps of information publicly—it’s part of the deal when listing on an exchange. One way they do this is by releasing annual reports.
Planning for your future
Published date 8 September 2021
2 min read
Let’s take a look at the impact of investing now, building a regular investing habit, and how you can shape your money for years to come.
Invest, save, or spend?
Published date 3 September 2021
4 min read
Every decision you make with your money falls into one of three categories: investing, saving, and spending.
Why do shares change price?
Published date 9 August 2021
5 min read
If you take a look at a line graph of any share price history, you might see all kinds of movements. Sometimes it goes up in price, sometimes it goes down.
How an index fund works
Published date 2 August 2021
5 min read
Index funds are investments that track an index—like the S&P/ASX 200. They follow a set of rules, and tend to track the overall share market’s movements.
What to think about before you sell
Published date 23 July 2021
5 min read
Before selling your shares, you might want to think about your goals, the price you’re locking in, and whether or not you need the money.
What’s an ADR?
Published date 20 July 2021
5 min read
An American depositary receipt (ADR) represents shares in a foreign company that’s listed on an exchange outside of the US. But how do they differ from shares?
Investor Journeys—Alex
Published date 19 July 2021
4 min read
Alex started building her investment portfolio six years ago using multiple investment platforms—and now, she has a Sharesies account too!
Three things to think about before you start investing
Published date 16 June 2021
3 min read
Before you start investing it can help to think about your budget, saving up an emergency fund, and making a plan to tackle debt.
Some investment strategies to get you started
Published date 4 June 2021
5 min read
If you’re just starting your investing journey, an investing strategy can help you figure out what to invest in, when to buy and sell shares, and how much to sell your shares for.
WTF is an ETF?
Published date 28 May 2021
4 min read
ETF stands for exchange-traded fund. When you invest in an ETF, your money is split across lots of different investments.
Why invest for the long term?
Published date 27 May 2021
5 min read
Investing for the long term is a strategy where you expect an investment to grow over many years—even if its value goes up and down in the short term.
Who owns the investments I have through Sharesies?
Published date 24 May 2021
4 min read
Short answer: you do. You’re in control of your money and investments, and tell Sharesies what to do with them (such as buy or sell shares).
How to form an investing habit
Published date 14 May 2021
4 min read
Check out our top tips on how to build an investing habit—from starting small, to investing with mates.
How much should I invest?
Published date 14 May 2021
4 min read
When deciding how much to invest, having a goal—and an investing strategy to reach it—can help you choose an amount that’s affordable and sustainable.
Four beginner investor mistakes (and some ways to avoid them!)
Published date 14 May 2021
4 min read
When you’re starting out as an investor, you’re bound to make a few mistakes. That’s okay! Here’s some ways you can avoid some of the common pitfalls.
An introduction to corporate actions
Published date 22 April 2021
4 min read
Corporate actions: when companies do something that might affect share prices. We explain more about corporate actions and how they affect your investment.
What is risk anyway?
Published date 12 April 2021
6 min read
Different investments have different levels of risk. But what does this mean in practice? What’s the difference between low-risk and high-risk investments?
A deep dive into foreign exchange
Published date 12 April 2021
5 min read
We explain why foreign exchange—the concept of buying and selling foreign currency—is a major factor when you’re investing overseas.
How to choose a fund to invest in
Published date 12 April 2021
2 min read
If you’re investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time, you might feel a bit spoiled for choice. Here's how to narrow it down.
The different dimensions of diversification
Published date 9 April 2021
6 min read
By investing across lots of different things, you spread your money around. It’s like the old cliche—“don’t put all your eggs in one basket”.
Investing 101: how to start investing
Published date 9 April 2021
4 min read
So you want to start investing. The problem is, you have no idea where to start. That’s okay! We’re here to help with this handy guide.
Is now a good time to invest?
Published date 23 March 2021
4 min read
Choosing when to invest is entirely your choice, but it can help to think about your goals, financial responsibilities, and when you’ll need your money.
How do I make money from investing in shares?
Published date 23 March 2021
4 min read
When you’re investing, even for the long term, you probably have one main goal: to make money. But how exactly do you do this? Let’s get into the details.
Questions to ask when you invest in companies
Published date 22 March 2021
5 min read
Investing in companies is about giving you a shot at the returns you want, in a desirable time horizon, while taking risks you’re comfortable with.
Due diligence: a fancy word for doing your homework
Published date 17 March 2021
5 min read
Due diligence is the research you do to decide whether you’re going to put money into an investment or not—think of it as doing your investment homework.

Learn

Raising capital: debt vs. equityRaising capital: debt vs. equity

How to review your investment portfolio

Market roundup: Continued global uncertainty, but increasing share market stability

Investor Journeys—Liz

Investor Journeys—Rob and Lach

“Buy low, sell high”: what is it in practice?

Why invest?

Investor Journeys—Alyssia

What’s a blue chip?

Rights offers: what you need to know

Investor Journeys—Kate

Market roundup: How Russia and Ukraine are affecting global markets

Investor Journeys—Hannah

Why invest overseas?

Investing ethically: it’s up to you

What’s capital, and why does it matter?

Market roundup: Climbing inflation and the elusive COVID ‘bounce-back’

What’s an investment horizon?

What's dollar-cost averaging?

Investing in thematic exchange-traded funds

Top resources to start investing in 2022

What does it mean to be an investor?

Helpful terms for comparing companies

Who’s in charge of a company?

Is it too late to start investing?

What are compound returns?

The easy investing strategy you didn’t know about

An intro to cryptocurrency

A deep dive into investment liquidity

Investor Journeys—Maryann

Is it better to save or invest?

Investment jargon explained

What’s an IPO?

Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for US investments

Behind the scenes: Share prices for companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for Australian investments

Behind the scenes: Sharesies’ process for NZ investments

Investor Journeys—Hannah

Investor Journeys—Dave

Investor Journeys—Annabelle

Annual reports: what they can tell you about a company

Planning for your future

Invest, save, or spend?

Why do shares change price?

How an index fund works

What to think about before you sell

What’s an ADR?

Investor Journeys—Alex

Three things to think about before you start investing

Some investment strategies to get you started

WTF is an ETF?

Why invest for the long term?

Who owns the investments I have through Sharesies?

How to form an investing habit

How much should I invest?

Four beginner investor mistakes (and some ways to avoid them!)

An introduction to corporate actions

What is risk anyway?

A deep dive into foreign exchange

How to choose a fund to invest in

The different dimensions of diversification

Investing 101: how to start investing

Is now a good time to invest?

How do I make money from investing in shares?

Questions to ask when you invest in companies

Due diligence: a fancy word for doing your homework

Raising capital: debt vs. equity