Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN), Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), and ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) shares are popular with Aussie investors.

It isn’t hard to see why. All three have strong market positions and well-known brands.

But could they be good investments today? I think they could. Here is why I would buy them.

Qantas shares

Airlines can make even confident investors nervous. Fuel prices, competition, economic conditions, weather, and operational problems can quickly disrupt forecasts. I would never approach Qantas shares expecting a perfectly smooth journey.

But the company still has advantages that would be extremely difficult for a new competitor to reproduce.

Its domestic network, airport slots, Qantas brand, Jetstar operations, and frequent flyer ecosystem have been built over decades. The loyalty division is especially appealing because it earns money through credit cards, retail partners, points, and travel rewards without depending entirely on ticket sales.

Fleet renewal could also reshape the business. Newer aircraft can improve fuel efficiency, reduce maintenance requirements, open new routes, and provide a better passenger experience. The investment bill will be substantial, but I think Qantas has a genuine opportunity to emerge with a more efficient and flexible fleet.

The sector will remain volatile, so I would keep my position sensible. Even so, I think the airline’s competitive position and range of earnings streams make Qantas shares worth buying.

Woolworths shares

Woolworths appeals to me for a completely different reason.

Groceries sit close to the centre of household spending. Customers may change brands, hunt harder for value, or reduce discretionary purchases, but they still need food and everyday essentials.

That dependable demand gives Woolworths a strong base.

The company also has more to work with than a large store network. Online shopping, loyalty data, automated distribution, delivery services, and personalised offers can all shape how Woolworths competes over the next decade.

I particularly like the potential of Everyday Rewards. A deeper understanding of customer behaviour can help Woolworths improve promotions, stock the right products, and build stronger relationships with shoppers.

Supermarket retail is intensely competitive, and the company must keep earning customer trust on price, availability, and service. Margins are also relatively thin, which means poor execution can have an outsized effect on profits. But I think it has a strong management team with the capabilities to deliver.

For me, Woolworths remains a leading Australian retailer with the scale and resources to improve, making the shares an attractive long-term buy.

ResMed shares

ResMed gives investors exposure to a healthcare need that remains far from fully addressed.

Millions of people live with sleep apnoea and other breathing disorders, while many remain undiagnosed or untreated. Better awareness, wider testing, and growing acceptance of home-based care could help ResMed reach many more patients.

Its relationship with customers can also continue well beyond the original device sale.

Patients need masks, replacement parts, monitoring, support, and software that helps them remain engaged with treatment. That recurring demand can make each new patient increasingly valuable over time.

Competition and changing treatment options deserve attention. However, ResMed has spent years building its brand, distribution, connected devices, and expertise in sleep health.

I think those strengths can support continued growth even as the treatment market evolves.

Foolish takeaway

I would buy Qantas, Woolworths, and ResMed because their long-term opportunities are supported by positions that have taken years to establish.

Each company still has work ahead of it, but with patient ownership and sensible position sizes, I think all three ASX shares could become more valuable over the years ahead.

The post Why I’d buy Qantas, Woolworths, and ResMed shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for Woolworths shares
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• Coles vs. Woolworths. Which ASX consumer staples stock is the best buy?

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

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fought back from a poor start to end the day flat a fraction higher at 8,793.3 points.

Will the market be able to push on from this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a good session on Wednesday following a strong night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 22 points or 0.25% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.75%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.9%, and the Nasdaq stormed 1.3% higher.

Oil prices rise again

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have another good session on Wednesday after oil prices charged higher again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.1% to US$84.99 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.6% to US$91.51 a barrel. Traders bid oil prices to five-week highs following reports of more US-Iran attacks.

Buy Hub24 shares 

Bell Potter sees lots of value in Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) shares following the release of its quarterly update. This morning, the broker retained its buy rating and $110.00 price target on the investment platform provider’s shares. This implies potential upside of 35% for investors. It commented: “Our Buy recommendation is unchanged. Class is improving, with superannuation net inflows growing as a share, and boosting the result. The addition of retirement income streams (TAL) should support this trend and the result leaves FY27 target parts intact.”

Gold price rebounds

ASX 200 gold shares Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price rebounded. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.8% to US$4,088.5 an ounce. The precious metal climbed amid hopes that there could be a de-escalation in Middle East tensions.

Quarterly updates

There are a number of ASX 200 shares that are scheduled to release quarterly updates on Wednesday. This includes gold miner Westgold Resources, rare earths producer Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), and uranium producer Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN).

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have created significant wealth for long-term investors. Over the past decade, the mining giant’s share price has surged almost 235%, comfortably outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which gained around 60% over the same period.

But could Australia’s largest mining company repeat that performance and triple in value again by 2036? While predicting a decade of share price returns is impossible, BHP has several powerful long-term trends working in its favour.

Here are three reasons the mining giant could potentially deliver another market-beating run.

Demand for copper could drive the next growth phase

BHP has historically been known as a major iron ore producer, with its Western Australian operations generating billions of dollars in profits during periods of strong steel demand.

However, the future growth story of BHP shares is increasingly linked to copper. Copper is a critical commodity for electrification, renewable energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and global power networks. As economies transition towards lower-carbon energy systems, demand for copper is expected to rise significantly.

The mining giant has been positioning itself for this trend, including its acquisition of OZ Minerals in 2023, which strengthened its exposure to copper and other future-facing commodities.

If copper prices remain elevated and BHP successfully expands production, the commodity could become a major earnings driver over the next decade.

The asset base could keep generating cash

One of BHP’s biggest advantages is the quality and scale of its global operations. The company owns some of the world’s largest and lowest-cost mining assets, including its Western Australian iron ore operations, Olympic Dam copper-gold project, and Jansen potash development in Canada.

Low-cost producers typically have a major advantage through commodity cycles because they can remain profitable when weaker competitors struggle.

That financial strength has allowed BHP shares to consistently return billions of dollars to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

If commodity demand remains healthy, BHP’s ability to generate strong free cash flow could continue supporting shareholder returns well into the future.

Long-term resource demand could provide a tailwind

The world is becoming increasingly resource-intensive. Population growth, urbanisation, infrastructure investment, artificial intelligence, and energy security are all expected to support demand for commodities.

Even as the global economy changes, the need for raw materials remains essential. Data centres require enormous amounts of electricity and copper wiring, while renewable energy projects require significant quantities of metals. BHP’s scale means it is positioned to benefit from these long-term structural trends.

Of course, there are risks. Commodity prices are cyclical, China remains a major source of demand uncertainty, and large mining projects require significant capital investment.

A threefold return over 10 years would also require strong execution from management and favourable commodity conditions.

However, BHP has already demonstrated its ability to create substantial shareholder wealth over long periods. If copper demand accelerates, its growth projects deliver, and commodity markets remain supportive, another decade of strong returns may not be out of the question.

The post BHP shares have tripled in the past 10 years. Could history repeat itself over the next decade? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• HUB24 earnings: Record $18.9bn net inflows lift FUA
• Contact Energy June 2026 earnings: Sales rise, renewables progress
• Telix Pharmaceuticals: Q2 2026 revenue jumps 21%

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.