If I could only buy 3 stocks in 2026, I’d pick these

If you told me I could only buy three ASX stocks in 2026, it would be an incredibly tough call to make.

But I think I have managed to narrow it down to the high-quality stocks in this article that I believe offer value for money and strong long-term capital growth potential. 

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus is a textbook example of a high-quality Australian growth company that has built a global leadership position.

This ASX stock’s Visage platform sits at the premium end of medical imaging software, particularly in the US hospital market. What stands out to me is how deeply embedded the product becomes once installed. Switching costs are high, contracts are long-term, and customers tend to expand their usage over time.

The addressable market is very large relative to Pro Medicus’ current penetration, especially across different medical specialties and geographies. That gives it a long growth runway, even after years of strong execution.

It’s not a cheap stock on traditional metrics, but following a very sharp decline in recent months, I think it looks very attractive. Further, if execution continues, I think Pro Medicus can keep compounding for many years.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is one of those ASX stocks that feels almost boring until you step back and look at how dominant it really is.

Realestate.com.au is the default destination for property search in Australia. That position gives REA enormous pricing power and a data advantage that competitors struggle to match. Agents don’t just advertise on the platform. They rely on it.

What I like most is that REA continues to innovate within that dominance. New products, better data tools, and premium listing formats allow it to grow revenue faster than transaction volumes over time.

Property cycles come and go, but REA’s platform strength means it tends to emerge stronger after each one. That durability is exactly what I want if I’m only picking a handful of stocks.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is a stock that offers consistency, capital discipline, and resilience.

The group owns a collection of high-quality businesses, including Bunnings and Kmart, that generate strong cash flows across economic cycles. That cash flow gives management flexibility. They can reinvest, return capital to shareholders, or reshape the portfolio when opportunities arise.

What gives me confidence in Wesfarmers is its long track record of rational decision-making. It doesn’t chase trends. It focuses on returns. Over time, that approach has quietly compounded shareholder value.

If markets get more volatile in 2026, this is exactly the kind of anchor I’d want in a portfolio.

Foolish takeaway

If I could only buy three stocks in 2026, I’d want a mix of world-class growth, platform dominance, and defensive strength.

Pro Medicus offers global healthcare growth. REA Group brings unmatched digital dominance in property. Wesfarmers provides stability and disciplined capital allocation.

They’re different businesses, solving different problems, but they share one important trait. They’ve already proven they can execute. And if I’m narrowing my choices, that matters more than anything else.

The post If I could only buy 3 stocks in 2026, I’d pick these appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.