2 high-quality ASX 200 shares experts rate as buys

There are plenty of wonderful S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares that could be excellent investments in May thanks to their quality and valuation.

Some blue chips have an incredible ability to regularly deliver profit growth, unlocking long-term capital growth and rising dividends.

Let’s look at two of the highest-quality blue chips that experts have rated as buys.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie is a global investment bank that is rapidly becoming a major player in Australia’s banking scene, too.

It has four divisions that help generate earnings for the business in different economic conditions. There’s the banking and financial services (BFS) segment, the global investment bank division, Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), and the commodities and global markets (CGM) division.

The global investment bank and CGM segments can see significant volatility, depending on what’s happening in the global economy, while BFS and MAM typically don’t see large declines in their profitability.

Excitingly, FY26 profit growth was very strong for the ASX 200 share and showed it’s able to perform even during difficult economic conditions.

FY26 net profit jumped 30% year over year, to $4.85 billion, with the FY26 second half net profit rising by 93% to $3.2 billion. It decided to pay a final ordinary dividend per share of $4.20, while the FY26 final dividend came to $7 per share.

The CGM business saw net profit soar 49% to $4.2 billion, MAM net profit increased 27% to $2.6 billion, BFS net profit rose 17% to $1.6 billion, and Macquarie Capital net profit soared 43% to $1 billion.

At the time of writing, according to CMC Markets, there are currently five buy ratings on the business, with the highest price target being $270, suggesting a 14% rise (at the time of writing) within the next year.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban is one of the world’s largest listed toll road operators, with roads in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and North America.

Australia’s major cities’ populations continue growing, increasing the number of vehicles on the road. This makes Transurban’s roads increasingly valuable, particularly for its ability to offer significant time-saving routes for drivers, making the tolls worthwhile where that time is valuable.

In the three months to March 2026, the ASX 200 share reported total average daily traffic (ADT) of 3% across its roads, including 0.7% growth in Sydney and 1.4% growth in Melbourne during the month of March, despite the impacts of the Middle East conflict.

I’m expecting revenue to grow strongly in FY27 if inflation remains elevated during the rest of 2026. Additionally, the occasional expansion of Transurban’s toll road portfolio can further grow earnings and cash flow.

With rising cash flow, the business can deliver rising payouts, which could be attractive during this uncertain period.

According to CMC Invest, there are three buy ratings on the business, with the highest price target at $16.10, suggesting (at the time of writing) a possible 11% rise within a year.

The post 2 high-quality ASX 200 shares experts rate as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Money to invest? I’d follow Warren Buffett to get rich
• How to build a $1,000 a month passive income from the ASX
• 3 key takeaways from the Macquarie results
• Why Macquarie, QBE, Tabcorp, and Westpac shares are dropping today
• New Macquarie dividend: Here’s everything you need to know

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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.