Investing and holding for the long term is the best way to go, in my view, because it means giving the ASX shares a long time to compound, while also reducing tax payments.
I’m going to look at two ASX shares that could be excellent investments to own for the years ahead because of their strong underlying growth and the fact the share prices are cheaper than they used to be.
Below are two of my favourite ideas for long-term returns.
Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)
Sigma is a business that’s heavily involved in the pharmacy industry as both a chemist brand owner and product distributor. Its key business is Chemist Warehouse, which I’d describe as the leading operator in the sector.
The business recently announced an update that included a number of positives that I think makes it an even stronger buy.
Firstly, Chemist Warehouse’s sales remain incredibly strong.
Australian Chemist Warehouse-branded stores saw network sales growth of 16.7%, powered by 14.4% like-for-like (LFL) sales growth. The international division, which includes Ireland, New Zealand, Dubai, and China saw overall sales growth of 24.7%, with LFL growth of 11.8%.
The fact the core business continues to perform so strongly is very positive for the foreseeable future, in my opinion. I believe investors should never lose sight of the performance of the key element of a company’s earnings, even if it has exciting growth plans for new products or services.
Second, the ASX share announced that Chemist Warehouse is entering the UK by acquiring 75% of a number of Greenlight stores which are based in London. Chemist Warehouse will licence the Chemist Warehouse brand and intellectual property and provide retail support, including ranging, store layout, inventory management, and marketing support.
Some of the Greenlight locations will be developed or relocated, becoming Chemist Warehouse stores. The first phase will focus on rebranding and developing up to five stores initially. If this proves successful, more stores could be developed.
Finally, the company is investing in a new distribution centre in New Zealand, which will help it continue growth in that market. It’s aiming for more than 100 Chemist Warehouse stores in New Zealand in the long term, where there’s currently approximately 70.
All of the above bodes well for the ASX share’s long-term future. The UK is a big market and could be a great growth driver in the years ahead.
L1 Global Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: GLS)
I believe every Australian would benefit from having a good allocation to international shares, though the international/US share market is increasingly becoming a bet on a few large US tech names and the theme of AI in general.
There are plenty of appealing investments in the international market, which could deliver strong returns.
Instead of trying to search across the entire global share market for great ideas, I’m very willing to have high-performing fund managers provide the diversification and returns I’m after.
L1 Global Long Short Fund is a listed investment company (LIC) that utilises both long-term investing and short-selling to find opportunities. Some of the sectors it’s invested in recently includes copper, gold, construction materials, and banking.
According to the fund manager, the ASX share’s median ‘long’ position trades at around 8x FY27’s estimated earnings, with double-digit earnings growth and modest debt levels.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns, but since the strategy’s inception in January 2025, it has returned an average of 53.9% per year. I think this ASX share is one worth watching.
The post 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
Should you invest $1,000 in Sigma Healthcare right now?
Before you buy Sigma Healthcare shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Sigma Healthcare wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
* Returns as of 20 Feb 2026
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More reading
- Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
- Why Flight Centre, Sigma Healthcare, Vault Minerals, and WiseTech shares are storming higher today
- Sigma shares race higher on update and Chemist Warehouse UK expansion
- Sigma Healthcare delivers double digit Chemist Warehouse sales growth in 2026
- What’s making healthcare the worst sector on the ASX 200, down 39% in a year?
Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.