I like exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because they can open the door to markets and industries that are harder to access through individual ASX shares.

There are a few funds I am watching presently because I can see a strong long-term reason for owning them.

Here are three currently on my watchlist.

Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

Semiconductors sit behind an enormous amount of modern technology.

Artificial intelligence has pushed chips further into the spotlight, but the opportunity extends across data centres, smartphones, vehicles, industrial automation, cloud computing, and connected devices.

The SEMI ETF provides exposure to 30 major companies involved in the development and manufacturing of semiconductors.

I like the idea of approaching this industry through an ETF because predicting which chip company will lead the next generation of technology is difficult.

Demand can also shift across the semiconductor supply chain. One period might favour chip designers, while another could benefit memory manufacturers or the companies producing the equipment needed to make advanced chips.

The SEMI ETF spreads the investment across established industry leaders, allowing investors to participate in the broader growth of semiconductor demand.

Technology spending can move in cycles, so I would expect plenty of volatility along the way. But over a long timeframe, I think increasingly powerful computing creates a strong reason to keep this fund on my watchlist.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The MOAT ETF takes an approach that closely resembles how I would think about selecting individual shares.

The fund invests in US companies that have sustainable competitive advantages and are trading at attractive prices relative to their fair value.

That combination catches my eye. A strong competitive position can come from factors such as brand strength, switching costs, network effects, or cost advantages. These characteristics can help a business protect profits and continue investing as competitors try to take market share.

The valuation element is also important. Even an excellent company can produce disappointing returns if investors pay too much for it.

I think having both considerations built into the investment process makes the MOAT ETF an interesting alternative to simply buying the largest US businesses by market capitalisation.

Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

The VAE ETF is on my watchlist because I think Asia could offer some exciting long-term opportunities.

The fund invests across Asian markets, excluding Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, providing access to economies such as China, India, Taiwan, and South Korea.

This brings exposure to areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, online commerce, financial services, industrial development, and rising consumer spending.

I think the semiconductor exposure is particularly interesting, with Taiwan and South Korea playing major roles in the global technology supply chain.

There is also a much broader story. Rising incomes across parts of Asia could support businesses serving increasingly wealthy consumers for many years.

The VAE ETF will come with political, regulatory, and currency risks that can create periods of volatility. But I think the size and long-term growth potential of the region still make it worth watching.

Foolish takeaway

I think all three ETFs offer exposure to areas with strong long-term growth potential.

Semiconductors, high-quality US businesses, and Asia’s economic development could all create attractive opportunities over the coming decade.

As a result, these are three funds I would be comfortable considering for a long-term investment.

The post Why these ASX ETFs are on my watchlist appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 strong ASX ETFs for smart investors to buy and hold
• Down 21% in six weeks, what’s happened to SEMI ETF?
• 3 strong Vanguard ETFs to buy with $3,000
• Should investors be targeting the semiconductor boom?
• 3 ASX tech shares on the verge of rocketing to the moon

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 recommended 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.

Turning $10,000 into $100,000 sounds like a big goal, but compounding can do surprising things when it is given enough time.

If I assume an average annual return of 9% and no further contributions, the maths gives us a good idea of what the journey could look like.

How long would it take?

At a 9% annual return, $10,000 would grow to approximately $100,000 after 27 years.

Of course, it is worth remembering that the share market will not return exactly 9% every year. There will be strong years, weak years, and probably some uncomfortable falls along the way.

But I think it shows what long-term compounding can achieve when an investment is given enough time.

How would I target a 9% return?

If I were choosing individual ASX shares, I would focus on businesses I believe can steadily increase their value over many years.

I would look for strong competitive positions, opportunities to reinvest money at attractive returns, capable management, healthy balance sheets, and markets with room for growth.

I would also spread my money across several businesses rather than relying on one company to deliver the entire result.

For investors who would rather avoid stock picking, an index-tracking fund could provide a simpler route.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), for example, seeks to track the S&P/ASX 300 Index and provides exposure to hundreds of Australian shares through one investment.

There is no guarantee that the VAS ETF, or the Australian market generally, will deliver 9% per year from here. But broad diversification and reinvesting dividends would allow investors to capture whatever long-term return the market provides.

Could $100,000 come sooner?

It certainly could if the portfolio achieves a higher return.

Warren Buffett provides an extraordinary example of what sustained outperformance can do.

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B)’s per-share market value compounded at nearly 20% annually between 1965 and 2025, compared with 10.5% for the S&P 500 including dividends.

I think Buffett’s approach offers some valuable lessons. He is known to look for businesses he understands, durable competitive advantages, strong long-term economic prospects, and managers who act like owners. Buffett then aims to remain patient and let compounding unfold.

Those sound like straightforward ideas. Applying them successfully for decades is much harder.

Even professional investors regularly struggle to outperform. S&P Dow Jones Indices found that 87% of actively managed Australian Equity General funds failed to beat their benchmark over the 15 years to the end of 2025.

Buffett is an investing legend for a reason.

Foolish takeaway

I think $10,000 can become $100,000 without requiring a spectacular investment idea.

At an average return of 9%, the journey takes around 27 years. The ingredients are patience, sensible investments, reinvested returns, and enough discipline to stay invested when markets inevitably become uncomfortable.

Beating 9% could bring the finish line closer. However, I would treat that as a bonus rather than something my plan depends on.

The post How to turn $10,000 into $100,000 with ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is $2 million really the new superannuation target?
• How much do I need to retire on $100,000 a year at 60?
• Which is the best Vanguard ETF? VAS, VGS and VDHG compared
• $500 a month into ASX shares: Here’s what that could be worth in 20 years
• How much superannuation do you need to retire at 55?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index 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 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.

Healthcare is one part of the ASX where I am happy to think several years ahead.

I like businesses with established positions in important areas of medicine and clear opportunities to reach more patients or healthcare providers over time.

Here are three shares I would be happy to buy.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL is going through a major reset, but following the release of its results this week, I still believe the foundations of the business are strong.

The most important part of the long-term story remains CSL Behring. Demand for immunoglobulin (Ig) continues to grow, and management expects Ig sales to increase at a mid-to-high-single-digit rate in FY27. CSL is also investing around US$1.5 billion to expand its US plasma manufacturing presence and improve yields.

I think that investment makes sense because plasma products remain difficult to manufacture at scale. CSL has spent decades building its collection network, manufacturing expertise, and relationships with healthcare providers.

There are newer products to watch as well. Andembry generated US$240 million of sales in its first full year on the market, while Hemgenix continued to grow.

FY26 was messy, with large impairments and weaker performance in parts of the group. But management is simplifying CSL and expects underlying profit to return to growth in FY27.

I think a successful recovery could remind investors why CSL became one of Australia’s great healthcare businesses in the first place.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear is another company where the long-term opportunity interests me more than any one year of earnings.

A huge number of people with severe hearing loss could benefit from an implant but never receive one. Cochlear is trying to change that by making diagnosis, referral, and treatment more systematic, particularly for adults. I think that could be a powerful growth driver.

In the US, medical and professional channels currently account for only around 40% of adult cochlear implant referrals. Cochlear is working with clinicians to improve those pathways and make it easier for suitable patients to progress from diagnosis to treatment.

Product development gives me another reason to be positive. The Nucleus Nexa System became more than 95% of implant sales across developed markets by June. More importantly, the platform has been designed to support future developments including more personalised stimulation, a drug-eluting electrode, and eventually a totally implantable cochlear implant.

If Cochlear can make implants accessible to more people while continuing to improve the technology, I think the business has plenty of growth ahead.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus may have the clearest growth runway of the three.

Its Visage imaging software has become trusted by some of the largest healthcare systems in North America, yet management estimates it still has only around 11% of the US market. That leaves considerable room to keep winning customers.

What I like is how the opportunity is expanding once Pro Medicus gets through the door. Most of its new FY26 contracts included the full Visage stack, while customers are also beginning to add its cardiology offering.

The company signed $407 million of new contracts during FY26 and renewed every contract that came up for renewal, generally with higher minimums and transaction fees.

For me, that says a lot about how valuable the software has become to customers.

Foolish takeaway

I think healthcare can be a great place to look for businesses capable of compounding for many years because better treatments and technology can create value well beyond the next economic cycle.

That is what attracts me to these three shares. I would be comfortable buying them with the intention of giving their long-term opportunities plenty of time to develop.

The post Why I’d buy CSL, Cochlear, and Pro Medicus shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.