Some investments are well suited to being bought and held for decades.

For me, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a good place to look, particularly when they provide exposure to established businesses with long-term growth potential.

One fund that stands out is the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV).

But is it one of the best ETFs to buy and hold for the long term?

Why I like the IVV ETF

The IVV ETF tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving investors exposure to approximately 500 of the largest companies listed in the United States.

I think that is a strong foundation for a long-term investment. The US market is home to some of the world’s most successful businesses, many of which generate revenue from customers across the globe.

This means that although the IVV ETF invests exclusively in US-listed companies, its underlying businesses have exposure to economic growth well beyond America.

I also like the way the S&P 500 evolves over time. Companies that grow and become more important to the US share market can gain greater influence within the index, while those that decline can eventually be replaced.

For investors planning to hold an ETF for 20 or 30 years, I think that is a valuable feature.

The portfolio can change alongside the economy without requiring investors to constantly make decisions about which individual shares to own.

Plenty of growth ahead

Another reason I like the IVV ETF is its exposure to businesses driving major changes across the global economy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an obvious example. Major holding NVIDIA has become a major supplier of the technology powering AI development, and the IVV ETF gives investors exposure to its growth.

Investors would also be owning a slice of AI leaders Microsoft, Broadcom, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms.

But I think the longer-term opportunity extends well beyond the companies developing AI infrastructure.

Businesses across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and other industries are finding new ways to use technology to improve productivity and expand their operations.

The S&P 500 contains established companies across many of these sectors, which could allow the IVV ETF to benefit from a range of developments over the coming decades.

Low costs make a difference

Another reason I think the iShares S&P 500 ETF suits a buy-and-hold strategy is its low management fee.

The ETF charges just 0.04% annually. This means investors pay only $4 in management fees for every $10,000 invested.

Over several decades, keeping fees low can make a meaningful difference, particularly when investment returns are reinvested and allowed to compound.

As with all investments, there are risks to consider. The IVV ETF is heavily exposed to the US market, with some of its largest technology companies accounting for a significant share of the index.

If these businesses struggle or US shares underperform other markets, returns could disappoint. Currency movements can also affect Australian investors.

Foolish takeaway

I think the IVV ETF is one of the best buy-and-hold options available on the ASX.

It provides exposure to successful global businesses, offers long-term growth potential, and charges very low fees.

For me, it is the kind of ETF I would be happy buying today and continuing to add to over many years.

The post Is the IVV ETF one of the best buy and hold picks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX ETFs in October
• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy in October
• VGS vs IVV: Which ETF would I buy with $10,000?
• How much must I invest in IVV ETF shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027?

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 Alphabet, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.3% to 8,753.5 points on Tuesday.

Meanwhile on The Bull this week, two experts share their views on three ASX 200 shares.

Let’s take a look.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is $59.98, down 2.5% today and down 61% over 12 months. 

Philippe Bui from Medallion Financial Group has a buy rating on this ASX 200 tech share. 

Bui said: 

Operating revenue grew 31 per cent in full year 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Adjusted EBITDA rose 18 per cent, demonstrating continuing growth alongside investment in its US expansion.

The Melio acquisition in the US broadens its offering across accounting and payments, creating opportunities to deepen customer relationships.

We believe its recurring revenue model, established accounting network and growing product suite support an attractive long term investment case.

Integration costs and competition remain risks, but we favour buying for sustained international growth.

Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN)

The Ansell share price is $45.49, up 0.7% today and up 40% over 12 months. 

Tom Fairchild from Lazarus Capital Partners has a hold rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

Fairchild said: 

Ansell is a global leader in safety solutions, making protective gloves and clothing for industrial and health care customers.

Its premium brands give it genuine pricing power. In full year 2026, price increases fully offset higher US tariffs and Middle East-driven cost pressures without derailing volumes.

Global sales of $US2.14 billion in full year 2026 were up 5 per cent on an organic constant currency basis.

Adjusted earnings per share of $US1.486 were up 18.5 per cent.

With full year 2027 guidance pointing to further growth on top of a strong balance sheet and an ongoing share buy-back, Ansell looks well placed for inflationary times.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

The Wesfarmers share price is $77.27, down 0.1% today and down 13% over 12 months. 

Bui has a sell rating on this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share. 

He explained: 

Wesfarmers owns retail giants Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks among other businesses. Bunnings and Kmart remain strong businesses. However, we regard the valuation of Wesfarmers as demanding.

Fiscal year 2026 underlying earnings per share increased by 8.3 per cent, while the shares were recently trading around 30 times reported earnings. Consequently, this leaves limited room for potentially weaker consumer spending or execution setbacks.

An earnings decline at Officeworks and the ongoing lithium investment add uncertainty outside the core retailers.

We favour reducing exposure and re-allocating capital to opportunities offering a more attractive balance between valuation and growth.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Xero, Ansell, Wesfarmers shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Down 11% in a month: Is it time to buy Xero shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 9,627 shares of Wesfarmers pay an income equal to the Age Pension
• Xero vs Megaport: Which ASX tech stock suits young investors better?
• Are Xero shares a must-buy for investors?

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

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares have tumbled into the red in Tuesday morning trade. At the time of writing, the ASX tech shares are down around 2% to $60.27 a piece.

The shares have now fallen 11% over the past month. They’re also down around 46% for the year to date and are a huge 61% lower than 12 months ago.

Why are Xero shares still falling?

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive news out of Xero over the past couple of months. The latest decline is mostly a continuation of existing headwinds.

Xero shares rallied to a six-month high in late August after the company attracted investor interest and rolled out new AI-powered tools. In mid-August, the company announced significant product updates across its payments, payroll, and bookkeeping offerings in the US.

At the time, many investors were impressed that the company had successfully turned the threat of AI into an enterprise growth driver. 

Much of the tech-sector-wide sell-off this year was driven by concerns that AI could replace the core services of companies like Xero.

But as quickly as the shares spiked, they tumbled again. There isn’t any clear indication why, so it’s most likely a combination of renewed macroeconomic pressures and investors taking their gains off the table after a strong rally.

Over the past month, a fresh round of macroeconomic shocks, including an interest rate hike in late September and sky-high Australian bond yields, has also created strong headwinds for an already dampened Xero share price.

Xero also recently locked in the 12th of November as the date for its upcoming half-year FY27 financial results, for the six months ending 30th of September.

It’s not uncommon for investors to sell up shares in companies that have the potential for risk in upcoming financial updates.

This is particularly true for Xero, as investors are still focused on its Melio acquisition in the US. There are ongoing concerns about how the acquisition will affect the company’s near-term margins.

Are Xero shares a buy, sell, or hold?

Investors may be spooked, but the experts are much more confident that we’ll see a rebound ahead for Xero.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the stock. The $112 average target price implies an upside of around 84%, at the time of writing.

Data is also very positive on TradingView. All nine analysts have a buy/strong buy rating on Xero shares. The $119.13 average target price implies an upside of around 97%. But some think the shares have the potential to jump 181% higher to $169.71 each, at the time of writing.

If analyst forecasts are anything to go by, now is a good time to buy Xero shares in the dip.

The post Down 11% in a month: Is it time to buy Xero shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Xero, Ansell, Wesfarmers shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Xero vs Megaport: Which ASX tech stock suits young investors better?
• Are Xero shares a must-buy for investors?
• 6 ASX shares to buy in today’s weak market: experts

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