Investing can be a time-consuming activity. There are individual shares to research, broker notes to read, earnings results to follow, market moves to interpret, and endless opinions about what will happen next.

ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can help cut through some of that noise.

They allow investors to spread money across a basket of companies in one trade, which can make portfolio building much simpler and removes the need to pick individual stocks.

But which ASX ETFs could make buy and hold investing easy? Here are three to look closer at:

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

This fund gives investors broad exposure to developed share markets outside Australia.

That is important because the Australian market is relatively small and heavily tilted toward banks and miners.

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF opens the portfolio to companies listed in markets such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and other developed economies.

It can give investors exposure to global technology leaders, healthcare giants, consumer brands, industrial businesses, and financial companies that are simply not available in the same depth on the local market.

It gives investors a way to reduce home bias, access global growth, and avoid relying too heavily on the fortunes of the Australian economy alone.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

But if you do want some exposure to the local market, then it could be worth looking at the Betashares Australian Quality ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to Australian companies that pass a quality screen.

That makes it quite different from simply buying the largest companies on the ASX. Instead of letting size alone determine the portfolio, the fund looks for businesses with stronger financial characteristics.

This can include companies with more attractive profitability, healthier balance sheets, and better earnings quality. That type of filter can be useful in the Australian market.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

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

This fund is built around the idea that some companies have stronger defences than others.

In investing terms, a moat is what helps a business protect its profits from competitors. It might come from a powerful brand, cost advantage, network effect, valuable intellectual property, customer loyalty, or a product that is difficult to replace.

The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF applies that idea to US shares, looking for stock with lasting competitive advantages and fair valuations.

That second part is important because even great businesses can disappoint investors if they are bought at the wrong price.

For long-term investors, this ASX ETF can add a more selective style of US exposure. It is a way to own a portfolio of companies chosen for business strength rather than simply market size.

The post 3 excellent ASX ETFs for easy buy and hold investing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 10 amazing ASX ETFs for the next decade
• Invest like Warren Buffett with these top ASX ETFs
• 5 high-quality ASX ETFs to buy with $5,000

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. 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 recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have fallen a long way from their highs.

The NAB share price is currently trading around $37.45, down from a 52-week high of $49.45 and hovering above its 52-week low of $35.48.

For investors focused on passive income, I think this means NAB is worth a close look.

The valuation looks reasonable

The first thing that stands out to me is the valuation.

According to CommSec, consensus estimates suggest NAB could generate earnings per share of $2.43 in FY26 and $2.53 in FY27.

Based on the current share price of around $37.45, that puts the bank on a price-to-earnings ratio of about 15.4 times FY26 earnings and 14.8 times FY27 earnings.

That does not make NAB unbelievably cheap. But I think it looks like good value for one of Australia’s major banks.

Banks are going through a tougher period. Higher interest rates have put pressure on borrowers, competition remains strong, and investors are watching the housing market closely. But NAB still has scale, a major deposit base, strong customer relationships, and a leading position in business banking.

For a passive income investor, I think those qualities are important. The dividend needs to be backed by a business that can keep producing profits across different economic conditions.

The yield is attractive

The second reason NAB stands out is of course passive income.

CommSec consensus estimates point to dividends per share of $1.70 in FY26 and $1.72 in FY27.

At the current share price, that implies forward dividend yields of around 4.5% and 4.6%, respectively.

That is a useful level of income, in my view. It is high enough to be meaningful, while still coming from one of the country’s largest banks.

To put the numbers another way, a $10,000 investment at around $37.45 per share would buy approximately 267 NAB shares.

Based on the forecast FY26 dividend of $1.70 per share, that holding could generate about $454 in annual dividend income. Based on the FY27 forecast dividend of $1.72 per share, the income would be around $459.

That is before considering tax and any franking credits.

Of course, dividends are never guaranteed. Bank dividends depend on earnings, capital requirements, regulation, credit quality, and the broader economy. But the forecast yield does show why NAB may appeal to investors looking for passive income.

Why I’d consider buying NAB shares

I think the income case is stronger because NAB is not only a yield story.

The bank has a large role in Australian business lending, which gives it a different flavour to a purely mortgage-focused bank. Small and medium-sized businesses need credit, transaction accounts, payment services, deposits, and relationship banking as they grow and manage daily operations.

That creates a valuable customer base if NAB can keep serving it well.

The bank also gives investors exposure to the Australian economy. That can create volatility, especially when confidence is weaker, but it also means NAB can benefit if conditions improve over time.

Foolish takeaway

I think NAB shares look attractive for passive income investors at current levels.

The share price has pulled back meaningfully, the valuation looks reasonable on consensus earnings forecasts, and the forward dividend yield is around the mid-4% range.

There are risks, particularly around the economy, housing, bad debts, and banking competition. But I think NAB’s business banking strength and scale make it a useful income share to consider.

For investors wanting ASX passive income with the possibility of capital gains over time, I think NAB shares are worth buying.

The post Should I buy NAB shares for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for NAB shares
• Is the NAB share price good value after crashing 24%?
• Invested in ASX 200 bank shares for dividends? This fundie prefers other stocks
• Where I’d invest $2,000 in ASX 200 shares

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price has suffered a 16% decline since 14 May 2026, as the below chart shows. When an ASX mining share goes through a large dip, it’s good to consider whether it’s a buy and what could happen to the share price.

Miners can deliver great returns if investors buy them at the right time, given how much resource prices (and profits) can fluctuate.

Mining costs don’t change much year to year, so a shift in the revenue per tonne can make a big difference to the profitability because extra revenue for that tonne largely adds straight onto the operating profit (EBITDA) line, though an iron ore reduction can cut straight into net profit.

Iron ore price reduces

As you may be able to guess, the iron ore price has noticeably fallen in the last several weeks, dropping from more than US$110 per tonne in mid-May to almost US$100 per tonne, at the time of writing, according to Trading Economics.

Considering how that change may hurt Fortescue’s monthly profitability, the decline of the Fortescue share price has not been that bad.

But where to from here? The iron ore price is difficult to predict in the short term, though the market is wary of the influence that increased African iron ore production (including Simandou) could have on the global iron ore price.

Interestingly, to potentially offset that headwind, Fortescue is developing its own African iron ore project and diversifying into copper production.

Where could the Fortescue share price go from here?

It’s important not to anchor to where a share price has recently been and assume it’ll bounce back there quickly.

According to CMC Invest, there have been nine ratings on the business within the last three months.

A price target indicates where analysts expect the share price to be 12 months from the investment call.

The average price target of those nine ratings is $19.05, suggesting (at the time of writing) a slight decline over the next 12 months.

But that’s just the average price target. The most optimistic price target is $21.71, suggesting a rise of more than 12%, while the lowest is $15.79, implying a possible decline of around 18% at the time of writing.

The investment professionals are leaning slightly negative on the ASX mining share. Of those nine ratings, just two were buys, three were holds and four were sells.  

So, it doesn’t seem as though the Fortescue share price is a compelling idea today.

The post How much could the Fortescue share price rise in the next year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Fortescue shares a strong buy or a value trap?
• Why has the ASX 200 given up its early rebound today?
• Is the Fortescue share price a buy for its 8% dividend yield?
• Brokers rate these 4 ASX 200 shares as a sell!
• ASX 200 slips as oil shock puts investors on edge

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.