I think long-term investing in ASX shares is the best approach because it gives our investments time to successfully execute business plans and lets the magic of compounding play out.

The investments I’m going to talk about have already demonstrated their strategies are working and I’m expecting plenty more success in the years ahead.

The first is one of the ASX’s leading exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the second is a business exposed to one of Australia’s longest-term tailwinds.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

This investment gives investors exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies on the NASDAQ. The NASDAQ is home to many of the world’s leading technology businesses, so investors are getting significant exposure to tech businesses that are changing the world.

On 24 September 2026, its biggest positions were Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Micron Technology, Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon.com and Meta Platforms.

It’s hard to say how the world will change from here, but I imagine technology will remain a key driver of change. New products and services can unlock earnings and expand existing revenue streams, like cloud computing and online shopping.

By the way, I’m calling this an ASX share because it’s about investing in shares and we can buy it on the ASX.

The NDQ ETF holdings continue to see earnings growth, which can drive their share prices higher, which is a big tailwind for the returns of the NDQ ETF.

Impressively, the NDQ ETF has returned an average of 19.4% per year since inception in May 2025. In the past five years, it has returned an average of 14.2% per year. Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.

Over the next decade, I expect this collective group to continue delivering pleasing earnings growth, probably stronger than the overall global share market. Great businesses have a habit of continuing to deliver good performance.

Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP)

Propel is the other ASX share I want to highlight. It is the second-largest funeral operator in Australia and New Zealand. Propel operates from 213 locations, including 42 cremation facilities and nine cemeteries.

Australia and New Zealand both have growing and ageing demographics, which means there’s a tailwind for funeral volumes.

According to Propel and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the number of deaths in Australia is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% between 2026 and 2035 and then rise at a CAGR of a further 2.3% between 2036 to 2045.

FY26 was thankfully a challenging year for funeral volumes, with funeral volumes contracting by around 2%. To me, that suggests that funeral volumes are likely to be stronger in the medium term.

Funeral prices are steadily rising over time, which is another tailwind for revenue. In FY26, the average revenue per funeral was $6,673 – a comparable rise of 2% year-over-year.

The company is steadily expanding its geographic presence and scale, which should provide advantages in the coming years. Since FY26, it has deployed around $12 million on five acquisitions in New Zealand.

In July 2026, the first month of FY27, comparable average revenue per funeral rose 3%, and funeral volumes remained resilient despite the lowest recorded winter flu season in five years.

With Propel Funeral Partners’ share price down 45% over the past year, it looks like a great time to be brave and invest.

The post 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Propel Funeral Partners. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Owning Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares normally means receiving a pleasing level of dividend income each year.

The ASX bank share typically has a generous dividend payout ratio and a fairly low price/earnings (P/E) ratio, resulting in a large dividend yield for investors.

In my view, Westpac shares offer investors a fairly similar investment setup as ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB). However, Westpac typically generates more of its earnings from lending to households than the other two banks.

All three of the bank majors that I’ve mentioned have a higher dividend yield than Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), though that’s largely because CBA trades on a higher P/E ratio than the other major banks.

With the above in mind, let’s take a look at what analysts are predicting for the ASX bank share in the years ahead.

FY26

We’re now at the end of the Westpac 2026 financial year, which finishes on 30 September 2026. But we’ll have to wait a few weeks to see what the ASX bank share actually achieved when it reports.

The latest update we’ve heard from the bank was the FY26 third-quarter update for the three weeks to June 2026.

It said it generated $1.8 billion of quarterly statutory net profit, which represented a 3% increase on the quarterly average of the FY26 first half. Its underlying net profit also came to $1.8 billion, resulting in a 2% year-over-year increase on the FY26 first half average.

Westpac noted that it continues to focus on simplifying its operations, improving the customer experience, and increasing productivity. The ASX bank share said its program, called UNITE, is progressing.

The ASX bank share also highlighted that its enterprise data has migrated to the cloud, that it has strengthened its data foundations, and that it supports greater use of analytics and artificial intelligence.

For the quarter, its net interest margin (NIM) – the profitability of its lending – was essentially stable, though rose slightly thanks to the higher interest rate environment, offset by competitive pressures in lending, the deposit mix and more savers qualifying for the savings bonus rate.

Westpac also highlighted continued operating momentum drove “strong customer deposit and loan growth”. Lending increased by 2%, reflecting broad-based growth across the Australian portfolio including 4% in business, 3% in institutional and 2% in housing.

According to the projection on CMC Invest, the business is forecast to increase its dividend per Westpac share to $1.55. That translates into a FY26 grossed-up dividend yield of 6.3%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

FY27

The ASX bank share is expected to continue the positive trajectory for the Westpac dividend in the 2027 financial year, along with a slight increase in earnings per share (EPS).

The projection on CMC Invest suggests the annual dividend per share could be hiked slightly to $1.585.

FY28

In the final financial year of this projection series, Westpac is forecast to raise its annual dividend per share to $1.64.

That means the ASX bank share could pay a FY28 grossed-up dividend yield of 6.7%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

ASX share prices are always changing, giving investors the chance to invest at compelling value.

The recent reporting season provided deep insights into business profitability, allowing investors to judge whether ASX shares are overvalued or undervalued.

The below two ASX shares are some of the most backed ideas by analysts right now.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

PLS Group is one of the world’s largest lithium miners. It owns 100% of the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium operation, the Pilgangoora operation in Australia and the Colina lithium project in Brazil. It’s also integrated into the lithium value chain with its joint venture with POSCO in South Korea, which manufactures battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

According to Commsec, the company currently has 19 analyst ratings. Of those ratings, 10 are a buy, five are a hold, and four are a sell. While that’s a mixed bag, the majority are positive ratings.

FY26 saw the company come roaring back as the lithium price bounced back following difficulties in FY25, which then huge flow-on impacts to the financials.

The ASX share’s realised (sold) price for its lithium soared 121% to US$1,488 per tonne, which combined with a 17% rise in the volume of lithium sold to 891.6kt. This led to revenue jumping 152% to $1.9 billion.

Underlying operating profit (EBITDA) rocketed higher by 1,067% to $1.14 billion and net profit after tax (NPAT) grew 369% to $526 million. It also reported that its cash margin from operations improved 608% to $1.36 billion.

Not only is the company capitalising on the current strength of the lithium price, but the P2000 and Colina projects are progressing, which could unlock the next level of production.

Ongoing demand for lithium amid electric vehicles and other battery requirements could help drive the lithium price higher, or at least absorb the higher supply without detrimental impacts.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

AMP is another ASX-listed company with broad expert backing. The ASX financial share offers several services, including banking, investments, and superannuation. It also has increasingly important Chinese partnerships.

According to Commsec, there are currently nine analyst ratings on the business, with seven of those being buy.

The FY26 half-year result was another impressive result for a business that’s steadily turning things around after a difficult several years.

It said that in the six months to 30 June 2026, underlying net profit grew 33% to $174 million, with statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) rising 57% to $154 million.

Assets under management (AUM) increased to $167.6 billion, reflecting growth in AMP’s wealth and retirement business.

The platforms’ net cash flows increased 33% to $3.1 billion for the half, and superannuation and investments delivered its first positive half-year net cash flow result since 2017.

Perhaps most importantly, the contribution from AMP’s China partnerships more than doubled to $56 million, supported by CLPC AUM growth to approximately RMD 2.6 trillion.

With that result, the ASX financial share announced an additional $150 million share buyback and an interim dividend of 3 cents per share.

According to the projection on Commsec, the AMP share price is valued at 19x FY26’s estimated earnings.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.