Invest in specific companies/stocks?

Ojb

I have read that index funds are the easiest way to invest in the stock market and that the return usually beats choosing specific stocks.
However I just wondered how would I go about backing a specific industry , such as contact lense stock?
Would I have to find out the companies that make and sell lenses and see if they are on the market? Or can I just invest in a fund that contains contact lense stocks?
Many thanks

dividendhero

There are industry specific ETF's such as Pharma , but you won't get anything as specific as contact lens makers

Tom99

Is a stock making contact lens what you are actually looking for or just an example?

TBC15

I think the OP is taking a very short sighted approach.

AnotherJoe

Ojb wrote: »

I have read that index funds are the easiest way to invest in the stock market and that the return usually beats choosing specific stocks.
However I just wondered how would I go about backing a specific industry , such as contact lense stock?
Would I have to find out the companies that make and sell lenses and see if they are on the market? Or can I just invest in a fund that contains contact lense stocks?
Many thanks

I'm not sure you can say "usually". Its just much more risky. I hold specific stocks because I think that particular company will do well. However in my history of such specific purchases I've had some fantastic successes and some complete (100% loss) disasters.
As to you believing a particular industry will do well, certainly if it's broad enough there are specific funds. I hold healthcare and also pharmacy funds for example. And there are many others. Finance, mining, oil, energy etc etc etc. However . If it's as specialist as contact lens manufacturers (and that wasn't just an example) then there won't be a fund for that.

ColdIron

TBC15 wrote: »

I think the OP is taking a very short sighted approach.

Eye see what you did there

mollycat

Although I've tried to focus on this thread it doesn't bear scrutiny.

ColdIron

Viewing these stocks through the lens of the markets is not the solution and we are reading too much into it

mollycat

Any use for the OP?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogypBUCb7DA

londoninvestor

ColdIron wrote: »

Viewing these stocks through the lens of the markets is not the solution and we are reading too much into it

I wasn't sure I could beat this pun, but I think I've got a cornea one.

ColdIron

You're just making a spectacle of yourself