Ten years is a long time in the share market. Companies rise and fall, technology changes, and entire industries can look very different by the end of a decade.

That is why I think ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be such a good fit for long-term investors.

They allow investors to back markets, investment styles, and major trends without needing every individual stock pick to work out.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that I think could be excellent buy and hold options for the next 10 years.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could be a strong option for investors who want long-term exposure to some of the world’s leading growth companies.

The fund tracks 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. That means investors gain exposure to businesses involved in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, software, semiconductors, ecommerce, digital advertising, streaming, and consumer technology.

I think technology is likely to keep playing a larger role in how businesses operate and how people work, shop, communicate, and spend their time over the next decade. The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF gives investors a way to own a collection of businesses at the centre of that change, such as Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)

The Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF is another ASX ETF to consider for the long term.

This fund gives investors exposure to a large group of companies outside the United States, including businesses across Europe, Japan, Asia, emerging markets, and other parts of the world. That can be valuable for investors who already have plenty of US exposure.

After all, the next decade will not necessarily be dominated by one country or one market.

This ASX ETF allows investors to participate if growth comes from areas such as Asian consumer spending, European industrials, Japanese companies, emerging market financials, or global healthcare. It is a simple way to spread investments across a very large part of the global economy.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

A third ASX ETF to consider is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF.

This fund takes a selective approach to buying US shares. Rather than simply buying the biggest companies, it focuses on businesses believed to have sustainable competitive advantages and attractive valuations.

Those advantages could come from strong brands, cost leadership, intellectual property, network effects, or customers that are difficult to lose.

This could be a good thing when investing over a 10-year period. Businesses with genuine competitive advantages have a better chance of protecting profits and compounding earnings for many years.

The valuation discipline is important as well, because even a great company can be a poor investment if investors pay far too much for it.

For investors looking for a more selective way to own quality US businesses, I think the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF could be a strong long-term choice.

The post 3 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• NDQ vs IVV: One could be the better US growth ASX ETF
• These are the most popular ASX ETFs. Which has performed best over the last year?
• IVV vs NDQ ETF: Which is the better buy?
• ASX shares investors are getting younger and trading more often: CBA report
• Are these 3 top Betashares ETFs a buy in September?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vanguard International Equity Index Funds – Vanguard Ftse All-World ex-US ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The latest property data from Cotality has indicated that Australian home values continue to fall. 

Cotality’s national Home Value Index fell 0.9% in August, marking a fifth consecutive month of decline and taking national home values 3.6% below the market peak recorded in March.

Property snapshot

According to the report, home value declines spread sharply across Australia’s housing market through winter, with home values falling across 93% of capital city suburbs. Every capital city except Darwin has recorded a decline over the past three months.

Tim Lawless, Cotality’s Research Director, said the latest figures show the downturn is no longer confined to select markets or higher-value segments. 

What started as a more concentrated easing across higher-value segments has now become a much more generalised softening, with the vast majority of capital city suburbs recording some level of decline.

The proportion of capital city suburbs recording a fall in home values more than doubled through winter, rising from 45.8% in autumn to 93%, highlighting a much broader weakening in housing conditions.

How does this impact real estate shares?

As investors look at these numbers, the important distinction is that falling Australian house prices do not automatically mean all ASX property stocks will suffer.

However, there are some important considerations. 

Firstly, residential developers – these are likely the most vulnerable. 

Companies selling new houses/land can be hit by lower selling prices, slower presales, cancellations and weaker margins. 

If the housing correction continues, these equities are the ones I would be most cautious about.

Looking at REITs, falling residential house prices don’t directly determine the value of office, industrial, logistics, retail or healthcare property. 

For REITs, interest rates, bond yields, debt costs, occupancy and rental growth can matter considerably more. 

Finally, property/infrastructure owners with long leases are potentially relatively defensive.

Retail, logistics, healthcare and other assets with strong occupancy and contractual rental increases can continue generating cash flow even while residential property falls. 

Why interest rates are the bigger issue 

While investors may focus on dwelling prices, interest rates are the more important issue at hand. 

The housing decline is partly a consequence of higher borrowing costs, so the same monetary tightening that hurts residential property can hurt listed property. 

Higher rates increase REIT financing costs, which can reduce distributions and funds from operations. 

This can push property valuations lower and ultimately weigh on share prices. 

Based on these factors, the ASX real estate shares that could offer defensive profiles are: 

• Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) – Major exposure to logistics and data centres rather than Australian residential property.
• GPT Group (ASX: GPT) – More diversified across office, retail and logistics and less directly exposed to the residential downturn.

The post Home values decline for a 5th straight month – what does it mean for ASX real estate shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Australian bond yields are back at 2011 levels. What does this mean for ASX shares?
• Buy, hold, sell: Liontown, Collins Foods, and Goodman shares

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX defence shares have had a wild ride this year.

One company in the sector is fielding takeover approaches from two directions at once.

Another has fallen 74% from its high.

Whereas a final one has just delivered its first genuinely profitable half at scale.

All three are funded by the same wave of government spending underpinning the defence sector. This begs the question, why are there so many different narratives?

Why ASX defence shares have a decade-long tailwind

The money behind this sector is far from speculative.

Australia has committed to lifting defence spending toward 3% of GDP by 2033, which the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) puts at roughly $96.6 billion a year in its budget brief.

That is an increase of about $53 billion on previous projections.

However, ASPI also makes the fair point that only around four cents in every announced dollar actually lands inside the current budget year.

The build-out is significant, but it is a decade-long story, and that backdrop underpins every one of the ASX defence shares below.

1. Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)

Austal is the cheapest name here, yet also the most complicated.

FY26 revenue rose 11% to $2.03 billion, and the order book reached a record $16.5 billion.

The Australasian business delivered record earnings before interest and tax of $85.3 million, up 137% on the prior year.

The group still posted a statutory loss of $53.6 million, because provisions on legacy United States Navy contracts drove a $202.8 million EBIT loss at Austal USA.

That American problem may now be for sale.

Hanwha Defence USA has offered between US$1.05 billion and US$1.2 billion for Austal USA alone, and a second party has since held preliminary talks.

Austal’s entire market capitalisation is only about $1.8 billion.

Chief executive Paddy Gregg was clear about what this means strategically for the company:

Outside of the US, never before has the Australian business been in such an enviable position, with a long-term order book and a strategic agreement that will provide decades of stability and growth.

2. DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

DroneShield is the contrarian pick of the three.

DoneShield shares change hands near $1.75, down from a 52-week high of $6.71, a decline of roughly 74%.

The half-year numbers explain a good deal of that.

Revenue jumped 74% to $125.8 million, yet underlying EBITDA swung to a $12.4 million loss and the statutory result was a $32.2 million loss.

The balance sheet is the reassuring part, with $180 million of cash and no debt at all.

Management has reaffirmed FY2026 revenue guidance of $250 million to $270 million, and committed revenue already stands at $240.4 million.

3. Electro Optic Systems Ltd (ASX: EOS)

Electro Optic Systems had the best half of the three by a wide margin.

Revenue surged 283% to $168.8 million and underlying EBITDA reached a positive $21.6 million, against a $14.9 million loss a year earlier.

The unconditional order book almost doubled to a record $846 million.

The company still reported a statutory loss of $33.7 million, though most of that came from revaluing the MARSS acquisition payment after its own share price rose.

Chief executive Dr Andreas Schwer summed the period up:

The first half year has been exceptionally good. It has been a record year for Electro Optic Systems.

Foolish takeaway

The temptation with ASX defence shares is to treat the whole sector as a single trade. However, it is nothing of the sort.

Austal is being repriced by bidders, Electro Optic Systems by earnings, and DroneShield by scepticism.

I would rather own all three in different sizes than try to pick the one winner.

The spending is committed for a decade, which is a long time for three very different businesses to sort out their respective problems.

The post Top 3 ASX defence shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Austal shares jump again as takeover interest heats up
• 3 reasons to buy DroneShield shares after their 74% decline
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• ASX shares investors are getting younger and trading more often: CBA report
• DroneShield shares have fallen 44% in 2026. Here’s why I’d buy the dip

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 DroneShield and Electro Optic Systems. 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.