What are Malaysia’s blue chip stocks?

If you’re interested in investing in stock markets in Malaysia and around the world, you’ve probably come across the term ‘blue chip’ stocks. You may be wondering what they are and how you can invest in them.

The term is a little vague, but generally speaking blue chip stocks are major listed companies that have had a good financial track record spanning many years. These kinds of companies tend to be safer and less volatile than other stocks and often pay a dividend.

During a stock market crash, a recession or market volatility, you’ll often hear analysts suggest blue chip stocks to buy. The reasoning here is that major companies are more likely to weather a storm and hence their impacted share prices are expected to rise again after the crisis ends.

List of Bursa Malaysia blue chip stocks

Note: These are some examples of Malaysia’s blue chips stocks listed on Bursa Malaysia. Most of them are constituents of the FBM KLCI index. This list is not an exhaustive list nor is it a recommendation for any of the stocks mentioned. The current market prices are updated as of 21 July 2021.

What are Malaysia’s blue chip stocks?

There’s no official list of ‘blue chip’ stocks – the closest we have is the list of companies on the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) index, a list of Malaysia’s top 30 companies by market capitalisation. It includes companies with a history of providing steady returns and minimal volatility to investors. These companies are spread across a range of market sectors, including:

Banking and financial services

Companies in Malaysia’s financial sector make up a large portion of the top 30 stocks. These companies tend to have a history of providing large dividends and include major banks such as Public Bank, Malayan Banking, CIMB Group Holdings and Hong Leong Bank.

Resources and energy sector

As mining is a cyclical industry, resources and energy companies have the potential to provide high capital growth, at the same time have a reputation for underperforming when the mining industry experiences a downturn. Having said that, companies such as Dialog Group, PETRONAS Gas and Tenaga Nasional all feature in the FBM KLCI.

Consumer products and services

Retail and consumer goods companies tend to offer medium-sized dividends to shareholders, and PETRONAS Dagangan, Nestle (Malaysia) and PPB Group are popular choices among investors.

Should you invest in blue chips or small caps?

While blue chip stocks tend to be a safer investment, they don’t usually rise considerably in value over a short-time frame unless you can scoop them up at a discount during a downturn. This means that blue chips are long-term investments or used to provide an ongoing incoming through dividends.

Those looking to make a quick buck by striking it lucky invest in riskier but smaller companies called ‘small-caps’. When you invest in a small company you’re betting that it will be the next big thing and turn that pocket money into millions.

It can be tempting to take a punt on speculative companies. These are companies that do not have a long, well-established history of providing stable returns to investors. They’re also typically located outside the list of the top 100 companies in Malaysia. These are sometimes called ‘growth stocks’ and the smallest are penny stocks – those that trade at less than RM1 per share.

The benefits of dividends

There are two ways to earn money from shares. Not only can you benefit from capital growth in the value of shares over time, but you can also earn an income from dividends. Dividends are more often paid out by blue chip stocks, which is part of what makes them so attractive.

A dividend is a company’s way of distributing its profits to shareholders. Many companies listed on Bursa Malaysia pay dividends twice a year, including a smaller “interim” dividend and a larger “final” dividend. However, not all companies pay dividends to shareholders, and will instead invest all of their profits back into the company.

Dividends tend to be paid by larger, well-established companies on Bursa Malaysia and you can use them to provide a regular, ongoing source of income. This offers you security and stability for the future, while at the same time giving you a chance to benefit from the company’s long-term capital growth.

How to buy blue chip stocks in Malaysia

1. Choose a share trading platform. If you’re a beginner, our table below can help you choose.
2. Open your CDS and trading account. You’ll need to provide your personal details, proof of ID and bank details.
3. Confirm your payment details. You’ll need to fund your account with a bank transfer, cheque or cash deposit at branch.
4. Find the shares you want to buy. Search the platform and buy your shares. It’s that simple.

Compare stock brokers to buy blue chip stocks

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Name	Product	Interest on deposit?	Intraday trade	CDS fee
Zacks Trade		No	Yes	N/A	CFD Service. Your capital is at risk. The Zachs Trade platform offers stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, and more with access to more than 90 exchanges worldwide	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Alliance Bank Trading Account		Yes	Yes	N/A	CFD Service. Your capital is at risk. Trade on-the-go and diversify your portfolio with a myriad of investment products, ranging from bonds to unit trusts.			loading Fetching your data...
CIMB Trading Account		Yes	Yes	RM0	CFD Service. Your capital is at risk. Access multiple stock exchanges,  exclusive research materials, real-time portfolio management, and other trading conveniences to grow your investments.			loading Fetching your data...
Hong Leong Trading Account		Yes	Yes	RM10	CFD Service. Your capital is at risk. Enjoy the flexibility of bursa trading and access global markets with a single platform.			loading Fetching your data...
Rakuten Trade Trading Account		Yes	Yes	Free	CFD Service. Your capital is at risk. Benefit from low fees and earn reward points when you trade on this all-in-one digital brokerage.			loading Fetching your data...
RHB Trading Account		Yes	Yes	RM10	CFD Service. Your capital is at risk. Trade in futures, shares, and warrants across major foreign markets with Malaysia's largest investment bank.			loading Fetching your data...

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Tips when choosing stocks

Make a plan

• Before you start buying or selling shares, consider exactly what you want to achieve with your share portfolio and in what timeframe. Once you have a plan in place you can then choose your investments accordingly.

Don’t panic

• Share markets fluctuate all the time – look at historical graphs charting the performance of Bursa Malaysia for proof of this – so don’t panic at the first sign of share prices heading south. Stick to your plan and ride out any dips or down periods.

Consider your investment goals

• Are you looking for shares to provide capital growth or to generate income? Smaller companies tend to focus more on growth and therefore reinvest profits into their business, while larger companies tend to pay dividends to their shareholders.

Don’t forget about dividends

• Dividends can provide a stable source of ongoing income during uncertain financial times. Look at companies with a history of paying high dividends to shareholders to see whether they could provide an attractive investment option for you.

Choose companies wisely

• Blue-chip stocks, also known as large-cap companies, tend to offer secure, stable returns and a minimal level of risk. Smaller companies outside the top 50 or 100 companies on Bursa Malaysia may provide larger growth potential, but they also come with a much higher level of risk attached.

Research before you buy

• Looking at a company’s annual reports, earnings and historical performance will help you form a clearer picture of whether it is a sound investment. If you’re using an online stock broker, you may also be able to access research reports and buy or sell recommendations for various companies.

Know what long-term means

• In order to ride out any periods of market volatility and enjoy the maximum returns, you typically need to look at an investment time frame of 7 to 10 years when choosing shares.

Consider other investment options

• Depending on your investment goals and appetite for risk, you may also want to consider other options, such as exchange traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are bought and sold on Bursa Malaysia just like shares, but they allow you to gain exposure to a share index or other group of underlying assets.