If you are wanting to make some buy and hold investments, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be worth considering.

They allow investors to buy large numbers of shares with a single click of the button. This essentially means you can build a diversified portfolio with relative ease.

With that in mind, here are five ASX ETFs that could suit a buy-and-hold approach over the next 10 years.

Vanguard Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VAS)

The Vanguard Australian Shares ETF is a natural starting point for long-term investors.

This popular fund provides investors with broad exposure to the Australian share market, covering the largest listed 300 companies across banking, resources, healthcare, and consumer sectors. This gives investors diversification, regular dividend income, and exposure to the local economy in a single investment.

Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

While Australia offers quality stocks, it represents only a small slice of the global market.

The Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF helps solve that problem by providing exposure to over 1,200 stocks from across the United States, Europe, and other developed markets. This includes many of the world’s most influential businesses in technology, healthcare, and consumer goods.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF (ASX: MOAT)

A third ASX ETF to look at is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. It allows investors to buy a slice of companies with sustainable competitive advantages and fair valuations.

The fund holds a concentrated portfolio of US-listed businesses that have sustainable wide economic moats. This approach has similarities to the long-term philosophy often associated with Warren Buffett, focusing on quality, pricing power, and defensible market positions. And given his success over multiple decades, it is hard to argue against this strategy.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

The Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF is another ASX ETF that could be worth considering. It takes a rules-based approach to identifying high-quality global stocks.

The ETF focuses on businesses with strong balance sheets, high returns on equity, and consistent earnings. These traits tend to matter more over longer periods than short-term growth spurts.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Global X Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC)

Finally, the Global X Battery Tech & Lithium ETF adds a thematic growth element to a long-term portfolio.

This ASX ETF provides investors with exposure to stocks involved in battery technology and lithium supply chains. These are areas that are expected to benefit from electric vehicle adoption, energy storage, and electrification trends over many years.

It was recommended by the team at VanEck.

The post 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 10 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 in 2026 to beat the market
• 3 top ASX ETFs for beginners to buy with $1,000
• 2 ETFs that are good bets to beat the ASX 200 in 2026
• Where to invest $7,000 in Janaury
• Where to invest $20,000 in ASX ETFs this month

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat 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 recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Finding stocks that can deliver strong returns over several years is not about chasing short-term hype. Instead, it is about owning quality businesses with clear long-term tailwinds, solid balance sheets, and proven execution.

With that in mind, here are 3 ASX shares that could be worth holding for the next 3 years. They come from different sectors, which helps spread risk without sacrificing upside potential.

Let’s unpack.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

PLS Group, previously known as Pilbara Minerals, is one of Australia’s leading lithium producers and a key supplier to the global electric vehicle supply chain.

At the time of writing, PLS shares are trading at around $4.69, giving the company a market capitalisation of roughly $15 billion. Over the past 12 months, the share price has surged by more than 100%, reflecting a sharp recovery in lithium sentiment.

After a difficult period during the lithium downturn, sentiment has improved sharply. Lithium prices have rebounded from their lows, and investors are once again focusing on long-term EV demand rather than short-term price swings.

The company’s Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia is a globally significant asset, and production volumes continue to underpin PLS’ position as a major player in battery materials.

Some brokers remain cautious on valuation after the strong rally, but most agree that lithium demand growth over the next decade remains compelling. For investors with a long-time horizon, PLS offers direct exposure to one of the most important commodities of the energy transition.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Eagers Automotive is Australia and New Zealand’s largest automotive retail group, operating hundreds of dealerships across multiple brands.

Eagers shares are currently trading at around $26.85, valuing the business at approximately $7.6 billion. The stock has delivered a one-year return of more than 120%, driven by strong earnings and improved investor confidence.

While car sales can be cyclical, Eagers has built a diversified earnings base that includes used vehicles, servicing, parts, and finance. This provides some resilience during softer economic conditions.

The company has also benefited from disciplined capital management and strong cash generation. Brokers are mixed on near-term upside following the share price recovery, but many see Eagers as a high-quality operator with scale advantages that smaller competitors struggle to match.

For long-term investors, Eagers offers exposure to consumer spending with a proven management team and a strong market position.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

Evolution Mining is one of Australia’s largest gold producers, with operations across Australia and Canada.

At present, Evolution shares are trading near $12.85, giving the company a market capitalisation of about $26 billion. Over the past year, the share price has climbed by more than 150%, supported by higher gold prices and improved operational performance.

Gold plays a unique role in portfolios, often performing well during periods of economic uncertainty or market volatility. Evolution’s diversified asset base helps smooth production risks, while its balance sheet remains relatively robust compared to smaller peers.

Broker sentiment toward Evolution is generally neutral, reflecting higher operating costs and fluctuating gold prices. However, many analysts still view the stock as a reliable way to gain gold exposure within a diversified portfolio.

For investors seeking defensive characteristics alongside growth potential, Evolution stands out.

The post 3 monster stocks to hold for the next 3 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 12 ASX lithium shares rip to 52-week highs
• Buy, hold, sell: AGL, Coles, and PLS shares
• 10 best ASX 200 large-cap shares of 2025

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Eagers Automotive Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are hunting for ASX 200 stocks that could supercharge your portfolio, then read on.

That’s because listed below are two buy-rated stocks that analysts believe could rise at least 20% from current levels.

Here’s what they are recommending to clients:

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Bell Potter has named investment platform provider Netwealth as an ASX 200 stock to buy.

The broker believes recent share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. It said:

Upgrade to Buy. First Guardian is an overhang, but if net flows are maintained then the company is on-track to beating guidance and maybe consensus. Against this backdrop there continues to be noise – KKR is looking to exit CFS and Macquarie has disrupted its flows – so we view FY26 as a good setup and upgrade based on valuation, where NWL has averaged an EV/

multiple of 33x.

The last traded price implies 29x our blended FY26-27 estimates. NWL has continued to build platform functionality with additional managed account options, a new individual HIN offering and expanded bond access through the trading desk. This should increase revenue share, and we can see a pathway to the usual +20% revenue growth story that historically has attracted value investors around these levels.

Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $31.50 price target on the ASX 200 stock. Based on its current share price of $25.76, this implies potential upside of 22% for investors over the next 12 months.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The team at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) believes that buy now pay later (BNPL) provider Zip could be an ASX 200 stock to buy.

While the broker acknowledges that loss rates are increasing due to its explosive total transaction value (TTV) growth, it still expects the company to achieve its net transaction margin guidance.

In light of this, the broker sees a lot of value in its shares at current levels. Macquarie said:

Outperform. We forecast Zip to continue to deliver rapid growth supported by increased product adoption, expansion of merchant network, increased customer engagement and digital product innovation.

Catalysts: We expect ZIP to deliver attractive TTV growth and NTM in the guidance range, with potential upside risk to earnings.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and $4.85 price target on Zip’s shares. Based on its current share price of $3.56, this suggests that upside of 36% is possible between now and this time next year.

The post These ASX 200 stocks could rise 20% to 35% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio starting at zero
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 ASX 200 blue-chip shares I would buy with $100,000
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

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

The three ASX shares in this article are among the most popular on the local market.

But are they buys according to analysts? Let’s find out if they rates them as buys, holds, or sells in January. Here’s what they are saying:

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Banking giant Commonwealth Bank of Australia is one of the most widely held shares on the local market. But unfortunately for its many shareholders, the team at Morgans believes its shares could fall heavily from current levels.

The broker recently put a sell rating and $96.07 price target on CBA’s shares. This is significantly lower than its current share price of $153.22.

Morgans suspects that tougher trading conditions and its current valuation mean there is a risk of poor future investment returns. It recently said:

The market’s response to a mild earnings miss for a stock priced for perpetual perfection was today’s sharp share price decline. WBC seemed to be a beneficiary. We’ve downgraded FY26-28F EPS and DPS by c.3%. Lower earnings also reduces terminal ROTE and sustainable growth in our DCF valuation. DCF-based target price declines to $96.07/sh. We remain SELL rated on CBA, recommending clients aggressively reduce overweight positions given the risk of poor future investment returns arising from the even-now overvalued share price and low-to-mid single digit EPS/DPS growth outlook.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

Morgans believes that CSL’s shares have been sold down to levels that are unjustified and is urging investors to snap them up while they can.

The broker has a buy rating and $249.51 price target on this biotechnology company’s shares. It said:

Despite the majority of the business “tracking to plan”, FY26 cc guidance had been downgraded (2-3% at revenue and NPATA mid-points), mainly reflecting continued declines in US influenza vaccination rates, although Chinese government cost containment affecting albumin demand was also flagged. While management is confident it can limit the impact of the latter to 1HFY26 via mitigation measures, ongoing uncertainty in the US influenza vaccine market has seen FY27-28 NPATA growth expectations moderate (to HSD from DD) and delay the demerger of Seqirus (prior FY26).

Although it remains challenging to know when US influenza vaccination rates will stabilise, we believe the risk of a permanently lower base is being over-priced, with Seqirus and Vifor marked down, with even Behring trading below peers and well under its long-term average, which we see as unjustified. We lower FY26-28 net profit forecasts by up to 14.3%, with our PT decreasing to A$249.51 (from A$293.83). BUY.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

Finally, the team at Bell Potter thinks that DroneShield is well-positioned in a rapidly growing market.

As a result, it has a buy rating and $4.50 price target on the counter drone technology company’s shares. Commenting on its outlook, the broker said:

We believe DRO has a market leading RF detect/defeat C-UAS offering and a strengthening competitive advantage owing to its years of battlefield experience and large and focused R&D team. We expect 2026 will be an inflection point for the global counter-drone industry with countries poised to unleash a wave of spending on RF detect and defeat solutions. Consequently, we believe DRO should see material contracts flowing from its $2.5b potential sales pipeline over the next 3-6 months as defence budgets roll over to FY26e.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CBA, CSL, and DroneShield shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio starting at zero
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Top Australian stocks to buy with $5,000 in 2026
• Why Codan, DroneShield, Mesoblast, and Woodside shares are storming higher today
• Aussie defence stocks tick higher on bullish Trump comments

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

Income investors, particularly those reliant on the passive income from ASX dividend stocks to fund their retirements or lifestyles, tend to be a discerning lot. The dividend shares that tend to make it into their income portfolios usually share some key characteristics. Strong and stable dividend yields are one, of course. But you can probably add defensive earnings bases, mature business models, and the ability to attach full franking credits to their dividends, too.

Today, let’s discuss two ASX dividend stocks that I think tick all of these boxes and are thus worthy of being in any income-focused Australian share portfolio.

2 ASX dividend stocks that should be in every income investor’s portfolio

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

First up, we have the ASX telco, Telstra, which has been a favourite amongst the ASX’s dividend investors for decades. This is no accident. Telstra has made an art out of leveraging its status as Australia’s dominant telecommunications provider for the benefit of its shareholders.

The telco commands a comfortable lead in market share of both mobile services and fixed-line internet in Australia. Many customers, particularly in rural and regional areas, have no choice but to use Telstra’s mobile network. That gives this ASX dividend stock a wide economic moat.

We can see this play out in Telstra’s dividends. The telco has been raising its shareholder payouts like clockwork in recent years, thanks to a defensive and resilient earnings base. Today, you can get this passive income payer on a trailing dividend yield of about 4%, which comes with full franking credits attached too.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Next up, we have another reliable dividend payer in Coles. Just like Telstra, I like Coles as an income stock thanks to its inherent defensiveness. Coles sells food, drinks, household essentials, and alcoholic beverages – all staple products that tend to be in high demand regardless of the health of the broader economy. After all, we all need to eat and stock our households with life’s essentials, regardless of whether the economy is booming or in recession.

Over the past seven years, the Australian economy has endured a pandemic, a recession, and a period of historically high inflation. Despite this, Coles has managed to increase its annual dividend every single year. That proves its nature as a reliable ASX dividend stock in my view.

Last week, Coles was trading on a dividend yield of approximately 3.3%. That has always come with full franking credits attached too.

The post 2 ASX dividend stocks thst should be in every income portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 reasons to hold Telstra shares until 2030
• Buy, hold, sell: AGL, Coles, and PLS shares
• How I’d build a $1,000-a-month passive income from ASX shares
• Analysts are urging investors to buy these ASX dividend shares
• Top retirement shares for Australian investors to buy now

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

There are plenty of attractive ASX share buying opportunities today, which have opened up in recent months. If I had $1,000 to invest today, there are quite a few ideas I’d look at.

A number of the ASX’s leading technology companies are trading at a much cheaper price, including Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) and Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR). I’ve covered those names in other recent articles.

I’m going to highlight a couple of other names that could deliver significant underlying growth in the coming years.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Temple & Webster is one of Australia’s leading retailers, in my opinion. It sells furniture, homewares and home improvement products online. The company has an enormous range of items, which are largely shipped directly by suppliers to customers.

This business strategy allows Temple & Webster to have a capital-light model, generate pleasing cash flow and provide the most choice for customers.

It’s benefiting from the ongoing adoption of online shopping by consumers, which is helping grow its potential customer base. This is a long-term tailwind – online penetration of the Australian furniture and homewares market has reached 20%, which compares to 29% for the UK and 35% for the US, suggesting Australia could climb towards those figures over time.

The ASX share delivered $601 million revenue in FY25 and aims to hit $1 billion of annual sales in the next few years. It continues to grow at a fast pace – in FY26 to 20 November 2025, its revenue was up another 18% year-over-year, suggesting significant market share gains. It has also started shipping to New Zealand.

I’m optimistic about what the company could achieve in the home improvement segment. The total addressable market ($19 billion) of that sector is similar to furniture and homewares ($18 billion), but the online penetration is only between 5% to 10% for the home improvement sector. Excitingly, in FY26 to 20 November 2025, home improvement revenue was up 40% year-over-year.

The company has a $150 million cash position, which the company is utilising for its ongoing share buyback. I think the ASX share’s operating profit can rise significantly in the coming years, particularly as its growing operating leverage plays out.

VanEck MSCI International Small Cos Quality ETF (ASX: QSML)

This is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that I believe could deliver compelling returns over the next five years.

Every excellent major business today was a small company at some point. This fund gives investors the ability to gain exposure to some wonderful businesses.

The QSML ETF is invested in 150 of the world’s highest quality ‘small’ (by global standards) companies.

To be chosen for the portfolio, it must rank well on three key fundamentals – a high return on equity (ROE), earnings stability and low financial leverage.

In other words, these companies make a high level of profit for how much shareholder money is retained, earnings don’t usually go backwards (so therefore profits are rising) and they have very healthy balance sheets (the growth and high ROE are not being funded by debt).

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

Impressively, the fund has delivered an average return per year of 17% over the last three years, though I’m not expecting the next three to be as strong as that. However, I do think it can outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the next few years thanks to its quality focus.

These aren’t the only two ASX shares I’d buy with $1,000 though, there are plenty of other exciting ideas.

The post This is a great place to invest $1,000 into ASX shares right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 10 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 in 2026 to beat the market
• 2 ASX growth shares to snap up while they’re still down
• 2 shares to buy hand over fist before the ASX 200 soars higher in 2026
• 5 unbeatable ASX stocks I’m eager to buy in 2026
• 3 ASX 200 growth shares to buy and hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in SiteMinder, Technology One, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Following a surprising and fairly volatile 2025, this is an opportune time to assess ASX share opportunities and make informed investments.

Investing in the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is certainly not a bad option, but I believe there are plenty of options that could outperform the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) over the long term.

If I had $10,000 (or more) to invest in up to ten ASX shares, then I’d be very excited to buy the following names, which include ASX growth shares, ASX dividend shares, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G)

This is a relatively new name on the ASX, having acquired the funds management business Platinum. L1 Group itself is a fund manager with an impressive track record of fund performance across its main strategies.

Its ability to outperform by focusing on businesses with good cash flow and lower price-earnings (P/E) ratios is impressive and sets it up well for organic funds under management (FUM) growth in 2026. Its track record is also useful for attracting new fund inflows.

I believe this ASX share appears undervalued based on its long-term potential.

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

Siteminder offers software to hoteliers that enables them to manage their operations and generate the strongest level of revenue from their rooms.

The ASX share is gaining traction globally, with a recent effort to attract larger hotels as subscribers.

Due to the software nature of the business (with low incremental costs), new revenue is quickly boosting its operating profit and cash flow. The ASX share is targeting 30% annual revenue growth, which would be excellent for boosting the company’s value if it achieves it, partly by selling more modules (from its new smart platform) to subscribers.

The SiteMinder share price appears particularly attractive after dropping in recent months.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is another software business that has dropped in value in the last few months. It provides important software for the operations of companies, governments, local councils, and universities.

The company is investing around 25% of its revenue in improving software for existing and new clients, which helps the business deliver 15% organic revenue growth each year from its existing subscriber base – this is known as net revenue retention (NRR).

By growing at a rate of at least 15% per year, it should double in approximately five years, which is a strong tailwind for earnings. I’m expecting ongoing profit growth in the teen percentage range as it grows its profit margins and expands in the UK.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts is an investment conglomerate that has expanded its portfolio significantly over the past century. It has a diversified asset base across private and public businesses, property, and credit.

By focusing on a long-term investment strategy and investing at good value, I think Soul Patts can continue its outperformance of the ASX 300 over the long term. As a bonus, it has increased its dividend every year since 1998, which is a tremendous record.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero is a global success story, with the accounting software business reaching over 4 million subscribers from countries like New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and the US.

The Xero share price has dropped by more than a third (at the time of writing) over the past six months, making it a lot cheaper for prospective investors. The business is still winning subscribers at a good pace, achieving a higher average revenue per user (ARPU) largely thanks to price rises. It also has excellent subscriber loyalty, and it’s rapidly expanding profits.

In five years, I believe the business could be significantly more profitable, partly due to its gross profit margin of nearly 90%.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

GYG is one of the leading quick service restaurant (QSR) operators in Australia. This Mexican food business aims to expand to 1,000 locations in Australia over the next two decades and is currently considering adding between 30 and 40 new locations annually in the country.

Growing scale is expected to help the business deliver stronger profit margins while boosting revenue.

Guzman Y Gomez is also achieving solid double-digit network sales growth in Asia (Singapore and Japan) – I think the market may be underestimating how much the ASX share can grow in the region over the long term.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

The online retailer of furniture and homewares is growing revenue in double-digit percentage terms each year, though recent trading disappointed the market.

It’s the type of business that could see significant operating leverage as it grows larger because its fixed costs are not growing (much), so the business expects its margins to significantly increase over time.

I think this ASX share has a very promising future as more Australians (and New Zealanders) adopt online shopping. It also has a compelling future with its home improvement product range, which is growing faster than the core range.

Global X S&P World EX Australia Garp ETF (ASX: GARP)

This is one of my favoured ETFs right now because of how it selectively invests in some of the most promising businesses at a good price.

It invests in a few hundred global stocks that are trading at an attractive value (based on their earnings), while also considering the pace of revenue and profit growth, as well as their debt levels and return on equity (ROE).

With how the GARP ETF is set up, I think it has an excellent shot of outperforming the ASX 300 over the long term.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The MOAT ETF seeks to identify some of the best US businesses based on their economic moat.

The fund wants to find businesses that have competitive advantages that are likely to allow the business to generate good profits for at least 20 years. But, it only invests when the businesses are trading at attractive value.

I believe this strategy is capable of outperforming the ASX 300 over the long term, as it has done; however, past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

MFF is best known as a listed investment company (LIC), though it also operates a funds management business (called Montaka) after acquiring it.

The ASX share owns a portfolio of global blue chips, including some of the US tech giants, that the investment team expect to deliver solid, compounding long-term returns for shareholders.

MFF has also committed to growing the dividend to shareholders over time, making it a pleasing option for income investors, too.

The post 10 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 in 2026 to beat the market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 top ASX ETFs for beginners to buy with $1,000
• 2 ETFs that are good bets to beat the ASX 200 in 2026
• Down 45%: Are Guzman Y Gomez shares a buy yet?
• 2 ASX growth shares to snap up while they’re still down
• How I’d build a high-conviction ASX share portfolio

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Guzman Y Gomez, Mff Capital Investments, SiteMinder, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Mff Capital Investments, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, and 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.

Buying Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), or BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares for passive income?

You’re not alone.

The three S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giants have long been popular with income investors for their (generally) market-beating dividends.

So, after we’ve closed out the first full trading week of 2026, I thought we’d take a look at the year just past to see how the BHP dividend payouts stack up to those made by Rio Tinto and Fortescue.

Mining Fortescue, Rio Tinto, or BHP shares for passive income

Starting with Rio Tinto, the ASX 200 mining stock paid out its final fully-franked dividend of $3.713 a share on 17 April. Eligible stockholders will have received the interim dividend of $2.22 a share on 25 September.

That brings the total passive income payout in 2025 for Rio Tinto to $5.933 a share.

At Friday’s closing price of $143.06, Rio Tinto shares trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 4.1%.

Moving on to Fortescue, the iron ore giant paid a fully franked interim dividend of 50 cents a share on 27 March. Fortescue paid its final dividend of 60 cents per share on 26 September.

That equates to a total dividend payout of $1.10 a share in calendar year 2025.

Fortescue shares closed on Friday changing hands for $22.71 a share. That sees the ASX 200 stock trading on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 4.8%.

Which brings us to the passive income payouts delivered by BHP shares over the year just past.

Eligible stockholders will have received the fully franked interim BHP dividend of 79.1 cents a share on 27 March. BHP paid its final dividend of 91.9 cents a share on 25 September.

That works out to a full-year payout of $1.71 per share.

BHP shares closed on Friday swapping hands for $47.72 each. This sees BHP trading on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.6%.

Which ASX 200 mining stock was the best for passive income in 2025?

Paying out a total of $5.933 a share in passive income in 2025, Rio Tinto beats Fortescue and BHP on a per-share basis.

However, Rio Tinto’s shares are also significantly more expensive than its two rivals.

Turning to the best dividend yield, the title goes to Fortescue shares, which offer a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 4.8%.

How have the big three ASX 200 mining stocks been performing?

For the 12 months through to market close on Friday, the ASX 200 has gained 4.67%.

Atop the passive income they’ve delivered, here’s how the big three ASX 200 mining stocks have performed over this same time:

• BHP shares are up 22%
• Fortescue shares are up 27%
• Rio Tinto shares are up 23%

The post Fortescue, Rio Tinto or BHP shares? Guess which ASX mining stock paid the most passive income in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Most people assume wealth is built by starting big.

In reality, it usually starts quietly. A decision to invest consistently. A habit that runs in the background. Over time, those small actions can snowball into something meaningful.

If you start from zero, invest $500 a month, and achieve an average return of 10% per annum, building a $250,000 ASX share portfolio is entirely realistic. Here is how you could approach it.

The timeline

At a 10% annual return, investing $500 every month allows compounding to do its thing.

Over roughly 17 years, those monthly contributions can grow into a portfolio valued at about $250,000.

The early years can feel slow. Progress looks modest at first, and it can be tempting to lose patience. But as your portfolio grows, the compounding effect becomes far more noticeable, and the curve starts to steepen.

Focusing on quality ASX shares

The most reliable long-term results tend to come from owning high-quality ASX shares with strong competitive positions and positive long term growth outlooks. These are the companies that can keep growing through different economic environments.

Examples of the types of businesses that fit this description include CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) in plasma therapies, Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) in hearing devices, and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) in logistics and digital infrastructure. Defensive shares like Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and diversified leaders such as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) can also play an important role.

Don’t forget to reinvest dividends

The Australian share market is one of the most generous in the world when it comes to dividends.

But you will want to remember to reinvest those dividends when you receive them. After all, if you were to generate a 3% dividend yield across your portfolio and didn’t reinvest, you would be slowing down the compounding process meaningfully.

For example, $500 a month compounding by 7% per annum would only be approximately $190,000 after 17 years. That’s $60,000 less than if you had reinvested the dividends.

Once your portfolio reaches a meaningful size, you could choose to start using dividends as income. But if your aim is to build wealth quickly, reinvestment gives compounding the best chance to work.

Foolish takeaway

Building a $250,000 ASX share portfolio from nothing does not require perfect decisions or special insight.

By investing $500 a month into quality ASX shares and earning an average return of 10% per annum, that goal can be reached in around 17 years.

You just need a combination of patience, discipline, and time.

The post How to build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio starting at zero appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL, Cochlear, Goodman Group, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Cochlear, Goodman Group, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.