Some ASX 200 shares earn a place in a portfolio because they look cheap.

Others earn a place because the quality of the business is hard to ignore.

That is the way I see the two shares below. They are rarely available at bargain prices, but I think both have the kind of long-term strengths that can make them valuable holdings for patient investors.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA is not usually the cheapest bank on the ASX, and I would not expect that to change.

But I still think it is one of the highest-quality blue-chip shares on the market.

The reason is quality. CBA has a leading retail banking franchise, a huge customer base, a strong deposit position, and one of the best digital banking platforms in the country. Those advantages can be easy to underappreciate when investors are focused only on valuation.

Banking is never risk-free. Bad debts, housing market weakness, competition, and regulation can all affect earnings.

Even so, I think CBA remains the strongest bank in Australia. It has scale, brand strength, customer trust, and a long record of navigating different economic conditions.

For investors wanting exposure to the banking sector, I would rather own the business I think is best positioned than simply chase the cheapest option.

That is why I would want CBA in my portfolio.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is another ASX 200 share I would want to own for the long term.

The company provides enterprise software to customers such as councils, government departments, universities, and large organisations. These customers need reliable systems to run important operations, from finance and payroll to property, student administration, and compliance.

That gives TechnologyOne a useful kind of resilience. Its customers are not buying software for fun. They are using systems that help them operate properly. Once those systems are embedded, they can be difficult and disruptive to replace.

I also like the long-term shift toward cloud-based software. If TechnologyOne can keep improving its platform and expanding in markets such as the UK, I think it has room to grow annual recurring revenue (ARR) at a strong clip for years to come.

The shares can trade at a premium, so valuation is important. But I think world-class businesses are often worth considering even when they are not obviously cheap.

For me, TechnologyOne has the product quality, customer relevance, and growth runway to be a long-term winner.

Foolish takeaway

I think CBA and TechnologyOne are two ASX 200 shares I would be happy to own in my portfolio.

What I like about both is that their strengths are not built on short-term excitement. They come from scale, trust, customer relationships, and products or services that are deeply woven into daily activity.

Both companies can look expensive at times, and neither is without risk. But I think the best portfolios should include businesses with durable advantages, long-term relevance, and the ability to keep compounding value.

That is why these two world-class ASX 200 shares stand out to me.

The post 2 world-class ASX 200 shares I want in my portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 10 of the best ASX shares to buy in FY 2027
• Should I buy, hold, or sell CBA shares in July?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The oil price has taken a hit, but some ASX energy shares are moving higher on Monday.

During early afternoon trade, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 1.15% to $28.19. That leaves the Woodside share price up around 20% in 2026.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is also having a stronger session. Its shares are up 2.25% to $7.26, taking its gain for the year to around 17%.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) is climbing 1.49% to 85.3 cents, while Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is moving the other way, down 0.77% to $10.28.

The move comes as investors look past weaker oil prices and focus on a more positive view from brokers.

Let’s take a closer look.

Oil prices have cooled quickly

The oil market has lost a lot of heat over the past month.

Based on Trading Economics, Brent crude is trading at around US$72 a barrel today, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is sitting near US$69 a barrel.

The pullback follows another move from OPEC+ to lift supply. The group has agreed to raise output by 188,000 barrels per day from August, extending its run of monthly increases.

At the same time, energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz are recovering. That has eased some of the supply worries that were pushing oil higher just a few weeks ago.

The market has gone from worrying about Middle East supply risks to focusing again on extra production and softer prices.

Brokers find value after the selloff

The weaker oil price has not stopped Morgan Stanley from turning more positive on parts of the ASX energy sector.

According to the broker update, analyst Rob Koh has upgraded Santos to ‘overweight’ and lifted the price target to $7.67, up from $7.50.

Woodside and Beach Energy were also upgraded to ‘equal-weight’ from ‘underweight’.

Morgan Stanley pointed to better valuations, free cash flow yields, and a more favourable risk-reward setup across parts of the sector.

It also noted that the ASX 200 energy index has fallen around 15% over the past 2 months, while earnings estimates have been dragged down as much as 28%.

Origin misses out

Origin Energy did not get the same treatment.

Morgan Stanley cut its price target on Origin to $10.35, down from $11.00, and kept it as its least preferred pick in the group.

The broker is concerned that lower east coast domestic gas prices could flow through to weaker electricity prices and put pressure on earnings.

It also flagged the proposed 2027 domestic gas reservation policy as another uncertainty hanging over the sector.

Foolish takeaway

The upgrades should give Woodside, Santos, and Beach Energy some support after a rough stretch for oil.

However, I wouldn’t read too much into it just yet.

This looks more like a valuation call after a tough couple of months for the sector.

Woodside and Santos have already climbed strongly in 2026, so investors are not exactly buying them at a big discount.

From here, the oil price needs to settle down. If crude keeps sliding, broker upgrades alone probably won’t be enough to keep these ASX 200 energy shares moving higher.

 

The post Oil price crash sparks broker upgrades for ASX energy shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 19%, should I still buy Woodside shares today?
• Woodside shares soared, then stumbled. What’s next for investors?
• Origin Energy sell-off continues, shares hit fresh 52-week low: Buy, sell or hold?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Betashares has built a large range of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for ASX investors.

Some are designed for broad market exposure, while others target more specific themes, sectors, or investment styles.

I think the best ones are those that can earn a place in a long-term portfolio.

With that in mind, here are three Betashares ETFs I would consider buying in July.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The first ETF I would look at is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. In practice, that means a heavy weighting toward some of the world’s most important technology and growth companies.

I like the NDQ ETF because many of its holdings sit inside long-term changes in the global economy. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital advertising, software, semiconductors, streaming, online shopping, and cybersecurity are all areas where large US technology companies continue to play major roles.

That does not mean this fund is low risk. It can be volatile, particularly when investors become worried about interest rates or technology valuations.

But for long-term investors, I think it offers access to companies that have reshaped how people work, shop, communicate, and consume information. That makes it a top ETF to consider.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

The next ETF I would consider is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF.

This fund is designed to provide exposure to Australian companies with quality characteristics, such as strong profitability, balance sheet strength, and earnings stability.

I think that can be useful because not all ASX shares are created equal.

Some businesses can generate strong returns through different parts of the cycle, while others are much more dependent on commodity prices, credit conditions, or short bursts of market enthusiasm.

A quality-focused ETF can help investors tilt their Australian exposure toward companies with stronger financial foundations.

That does not guarantee better returns every year. There will be periods when lower-quality or more cyclical shares perform better. But over the long term, I like the idea of owning businesses that have already shown signs of durability.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The third ETF I would consider is Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

Cybersecurity is one of those areas where demand is unlikely to disappear. Businesses, governments, schools, hospitals, banks, and households keep shifting more activity online. That creates more data, more digital systems, and more potential points of attack.

Cybersecurity spending can therefore become less of a nice-to-have and more of a basic operating requirement.

The HACK ETF gives investors exposure to a group of global companies involved in protecting networks, devices, cloud systems, identities, and digital infrastructure.

The theme can still be volatile, and specialised ETFs can move sharply when sentiment changes. But I think cybersecurity has a long runway because the problem it addresses keeps becoming more important.

Foolish takeaway

I think the NDQ, AQLT, and HACK ETF are three Betashares ETFs worth considering.

What I like about this group is that each fund approaches long-term investing from a different angle. One leans into global growth, one filters the Australian market for quality, and one targets a security problem that keeps becoming more important.

None of them will be right for every investor, and all can have weak periods. But for those looking beyond the next few months, I think these could be some of the best Betashares ETFs to buy and hold.

The post Are these some of the best Betashares ETFs to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• SpaceX will be included in the Nasdaq index this week. Here’s what that means for ASX investors
• The best ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years
• The currency-hedged ASX ETFs magnifying dividends by up to 10x this season
• Own NDQ, ARMR, HACK or other Betashares ASX ETFs? Dividends just announced
• 3 exciting ASX ETFs for exposure to the future of technology

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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.