There is something appealing about investments you do not have to keep second-guessing.

Buy them, add to them over time, and let the underlying companies do the work.

Of course, no investment should literally be ignored forever. But for investors with a very long time horizon, these five ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be strong candidates to hold for decades.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF could be an obvious place to start.

It gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest listed companies.

The attraction here is not simply that the United States has performed well historically.

It is that the S&P 500 continually evolves. Successful companies grow into larger positions, new leaders enter the index, and businesses that decline in importance can eventually drop out.

That makes the iShares S&P 500 ETF a simple way to back the long-term strength of corporate America without trying to predict today’s winners decades into the future.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF takes a more selective approach.

It invests in US companies that Morningstar believes possess sustainable competitive advantages and are trading at attractive valuations.

Those advantages could come from brands, intellectual property, cost advantages, network effects, or customers that are difficult to lose.

I think this philosophy makes plenty of sense for a long holding period.

A business that can defend its profits from competitors has a better chance of compounding earnings for many years.

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)

The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF could be a good option for investors wanting to look beyond America.

It invests across developed and emerging markets outside the United States.

This provides exposure to companies in Europe, Japan, Asia, Canada, and other markets around the world.

Nobody knows which country will produce the strongest returns over the next 20 years.

VEU allows investors to participate in growth across a huge part of the global economy without needing to make that call.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF is a more targeted long-term idea.

It invests in major Asian technology companies across semiconductors, ecommerce, gaming, digital platforms, and other areas.

Asia is home to some of the world’s most important technology businesses and enormous consumer markets.

I think that combination could provide plenty of growth over the decades ahead as more spending, services, and economic activity move online.

Global X FANG+ ETF (ASX: FANG)

Finally, the Global X FANG+ ETF could suit investors who want concentrated exposure to some of the world’s dominant growth companies.

The fund invests in a small collection of major technology and consumer businesses involved in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital advertising, ecommerce, electric vehicles, and online entertainment.

It will inevitably have periods of significant volatility.

But over a very long period, I think owning companies that are helping shape how people work, communicate, shop, and use technology could prove rewarding.

The post 5 ASX ETFs to buy and hold forever appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What Warren Buffett can teach Australians about superannuation
• Which ASX ETFs could be top picks for beginner investors?
• How much passive income can I earn off a $550,000 superannuation balance?
• 3 very exciting ASX ETFs for investors to watch
• 3 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Vanguard International Equity Index Funds – Vanguard Ftse All-World ex-US ETF and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF 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.

In an era of uncertainty, I think it could be a smart idea to own some of the most reliable ASX dividend stocks if we’re relying on the dividend payments. I’d name Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) as the top option.

Soul Patts, as it’s commonly known, is an investment house that has been operating for more than 120 years. Not many ASX shares can say they’ve been listed for more than a century.

But, I’m not just going to say it’s a great business to own because it’s old, though longevity is a useful attribute.

One of the more impressive elements of Soul Patts is that it has paid a dividend in every single year of its listed life, including through the world wars, the global pandemics, the economic recessions and so on. That alone is a very impressive history of reliability.

There’s a lot more to like about the business as a reliable ASX dividend stock.

Excellent dividend record

There are very few ASX shares that have grown their annual dividend every year going back to the GFC approximately 20 years ago.

But, only one ASX share has increased its annual payout every year this century. Soul Patts has the best record.

The ASX dividend stock has increased its annual ordinary dividend every year since 1998. If that doesn’t make it Australia’s most reliable business for dividends, I don’t know what would.

In the latest result, being the FY26 half-year result, Soul Patts decided to hike its interim dividend per share by 9.1% to 48 cents. That shows the business isn’t just growing its payout by 1% per year, it’s delivering sizeable increases.  

It currently has a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.5%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Rising cash flow

The business pays for its dividends from the cash flow that’s generated by its portfolio.

Its investment portfolio is spread across a number of industries including resources, energy, swimming schools, agriculture, property, credit, retirement living, water entitlements, financial services and plenty more.

By having a diversified portfolio that generate defensive cash flow, the business is able to continue providing reliable dividends.

But, the company doesn’t pay out all of its cash flow each year. The retained earnings can be used to invest in more opportunities.

In the FY26 first-half result, the company reported that its net cash flow from investments grew by 15.4% to $334 million. Its interim dividend only represented 54% of net cash flow from investments.

I expect the ASX dividend stock’s cash flow can continue to grow in the coming years.

Growing net asset value

Not only is the company growing its dividends and cash flow for shareholders, but the underlying value of the Soul Patts portfolio is increasing over time, which is a tailwind for the Soul Patts share price.

The business is investing in new assets, and its existing investments are growing.

In the first half of FY26, its net asset value (NAV) grew by 14.6% to $13.8 billion. I’m not expecting every result to show year-over-year growth of around 15%, but I think it’s likely to continue compounding at a pleasing pace.

With $2,000, an investor could buy 45 Soul Patts shares, which I think would be a great long-term buy.

The post $2,000 buys 45 shares in an impressively reliable ASX dividend stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $70,000 annual passive income?
• How much do I need to retire on $80,000 a year at 50?
• ASX 200 bank shares led a financial sector rebound last week
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $60,000 annual passive income?
• 3 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares have both captured plenty of investor interest over the past three years.

And both stocks are well-known for making some big daily moves. Sometimes higher. Sometimes lower.

But only one of them has raced ahead of the 24.5% three-year gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), as at 10 September, while the other has struggled to regain some sharp losses.

So which ASX share was the better buy?

Core Lithium shares playing catch up

Spoiler alert, it wasn’t Core Lithium shares.

Three years ago, you may have been tempted to buy shares in the ASX All Ords lithium stock after the share price had crashed 76% over the prior 12 months.

On 8 September 2023, this saw the lithium miner trading for 37 cents a share.

So, for $10,000 you could have bought 27,027 Core Lithium shares.

In Thursday afternoon trade, those same shares were swapping hands for 38 cents apiece, up 2.7% in three years.

Meaning the 27,027 shares you bought three years ago for $10,000 are now worth $10,270.

Not a loss. But far from a gangbuster result either.

Investing $10,000 in DroneShield shares

Unlike Core Lithium shares, 8 September 2023 would have been an opportune time to snap up some DroneShield shares.

Three years ago, the ASX 200 drone defence stock was trading for 29 cents a share.

So, for $10,000 you could have picked up 34,482 shares.

On Thursday, the stock was trading for $1.69 a share, up an impressive 482.8% in three years.

And the 34,482 DroneShield shares you bought three years ago for $10,000 are now worth $58,275.

What’s been happening in 2026?

While DroneShield is the clear winner over our three-year time frame, 2026 has delivered markedly different results.

Indeed, at the recent share prices, DroneShield shares have tumbled more than 49% year to date, while Core Lithium shares have surged more than 31% in 2026.

That strong performance from Core Lithium will see the stock return to the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) commencing on 21 September as part of the S&P Dow Jones Indices September quarterly rebalance.

Investors have been piling back into Core Lithium shares as lithium prices recovered from their 2025 lows. That recovery has also seen the beaten down miner advance its previously mothballed Finniss Lithium Operation, located in the Northern Territory, back towards production.

Commenting on the project in July, managing director Paul Brown said:

Core is in a very strong operational and financial position, with the foundations in place to continue executing to plan and ample funding to advance Finniss to steady state production in 2028.

The post $10,000 invested in DroneShield and Core Lithium shares 3 years ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• DroneShield shares are down 75%. Could this huge short bet backfire?
• Should I buy DroneShield shares following today’s trading update?
• Core Lithium shares jump 8% after a milestone investors have waited months for
• What are the most shorted ASX shares on the market right now?
• Top 3 ASX defence shares to buy right now

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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.