BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is already one of the largest companies on the Australian share market.

That size can sometimes make it easy to assume the biggest growth period is already behind it.

I am not so sure that is the case.

And if I were looking for an ASX mining share to buy today and leave alone for the next decade, BHP would be high on my list.

Scale gives BHP options

One of the things I like most about BHP is the flexibility that comes with its scale.

The company owns large, long-life assets across several major commodities, which means management can direct capital towards the opportunities offering the strongest prospective returns.

That becomes particularly valuable in resources.

Mining projects can take years to develop, cost billions of dollars, and operate for decades once they are running. Companies with strong balance sheets and existing infrastructure have a major advantage when attractive opportunities appear.

BHP does not need every commodity to be booming at the same time.

It can continue investing through weaker periods, expand existing operations where the economics make sense, and take a patient approach to major new projects.

Over a 10-year holding period, I think that flexibility could be more valuable than trying to predict which commodity will perform best next year.

Demand should keep evolving

The global economy will probably look quite different a decade from now, but it will still need enormous quantities of physical materials.

Cities will keep expanding. Electricity networks need upgrading. Data centres, renewable energy projects, electric vehicles, construction, and manufacturing all require resources somewhere along the supply chain.

BHP’s exposure to commodities, including copper and iron ore, puts it in a strong position to participate in that spending.

I am particularly interested in how its copper portfolio could develop.

BHP already operates major copper assets, giving it a platform to expand as demand increases. New supply is also difficult to bring online quickly, which could make high-quality existing operations increasingly valuable over time.

The important point for me is that BHP already owns the assets and expertise needed to participate rather than having to build an entirely new business from scratch.

I would expect income along the way

A decade is a long time to wait for an investment thesis to play out, so I also like that BHP can return substantial amounts of cash to shareholders.

Its dividend will move with commodity prices and profits, so I would never treat the payment as fixed.

But when conditions are strong, BHP’s enormous operations can generate significant free cash flow.

That gives management the ability to balance reinvestment in future projects with dividends to shareholders.

For a long-term investor, I think receiving income while the company’s asset base continues to develop is a valuable combination.

The risks are part of the investment

BHP will not deliver smooth results every year.

Commodity prices can fall sharply, major projects can run over budget, and changes in global economic activity can quickly affect demand.

There are also political, regulatory, and operational risks across the countries where BHP operates.

Those uncertainties are why I would think about the investment in decades rather than quarters.

I am backing the quality of the assets, the company’s financial strength, and management’s ability to allocate capital through multiple commodity cycles.

Foolish takeaway

BHP is the type of share I think makes more sense when viewed over years rather than months.

There will be weaker periods for commodity prices along the way, but the company has the assets, financial strength, and investment opportunities to keep moving forward through those cycles.

For me, that is enough to make BHP a share I would be comfortable buying and holding for the next decade.

The post Why I’d buy and hold BHP shares for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The share market has traditionally generated average annual returns of around 9% to 10% over the long term.

But I think some ASX shares have the potential to do even better from here.

These three would be on my buy list.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is one company I think the market may be underestimating.

The business has spent years building premium appliance brands that can be sold into households around the world. Coffee machines remain very important, but the opportunity extends across a much wider range of kitchen products.

What I like is the repeatability of that model. Breville can enter new markets, expand distribution, launch new products, and encourage existing customers who already know the brand to buy something else.

That gives the ASX share several ways to grow without needing one breakthrough product to carry the business.

So, with Breville shares now trading around $30.43, down almost 15% from their 52-week high, I think a combination of earnings growth and improving investor sentiment could comfortably support a return of more than 10%.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Hub24 has also had a substantial fall from its highs, but I remain positive about the business.

The company operates investment platforms used by financial advisers to manage client wealth.

I like the position Hub24 has built because more advisers are choosing modern platforms that can make portfolio administration easier while giving them access to a wider range of investment options and technology.

Once an adviser begins moving client assets onto a platform, those funds can remain there for years. New clients and additional contributions can then increase the amount administered without Hub24 having to start from scratch each time.

The company has continued gaining market share and attracting strong net inflows, while its growing scale can support higher profits as more assets move onto the platform.

At around $70, Hub24 is now trading more than 40% below its 52-week high. I think this has created an attractive entry point for long-term investors.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear shares have fallen heavily from their previous highs as weaker growth and a reduced earnings outlook have tested investor confidence.

There are genuine reasons for caution. But I do not think the long-term need for Cochlear’s products has changed.

Severe hearing loss remains significantly undertreated around the world, leaving a large population of people who could potentially benefit from cochlear implants.

Cochlear is also continuing to improve its technology. The newer Nucleus Nexa platform gives the company an opportunity to strengthen its offering, while future innovations could make implants more capable and easier for patients to live with.

The business does not need to return anywhere near its previous share price for investors buying today to earn 10%.

If sales growth improves and confidence in the earnings outlook begins to rebuild, I think there is plenty of room for the shares to move higher.

Foolish takeaway

I think all three ASX shares have more going for them than their recent share price performances suggest.

Breville still has international room to expand, Hub24 continues to benefit from more wealth moving onto its platform, and Cochlear is addressing a large healthcare need that is not going away.

None is guaranteed to deliver a double-digit return, but I would be comfortable backing each from current levels.

The post 3 ASX shares I think could return 10%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Cochlear share price rebounds 53% from 10-year low: Can it keep climbing?
• Cochlear vs Pro Medicus: Which beaten-down ASX healthcare share is the better buy today?
• 2 ASX shares I’d buy before they return to their 52-week highs
• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy if I couldn’t sell for 10 years
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Cochlear and Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear and Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) share price has climbed higher into the green in Wednesday morning trade.

At the time of writing, the ASX healthcare shares are up over 1% to $137.95 a piece.

Today’s increase means the shares have now rebounded around 53% from a 10-year low of just $90 each in late April.

The recovery has been pretty consistent, but there is a long way for the shares to go before they return to pre-2026 levels following a series of investor sell-offs earlier this year.

It’s been a difficult year for the medical hearing implant device company. Cochlear has suffered from a number of strong headwinds, including a sector-wide rotation away from ASX healthcare shares this year and some disappointing financial updates.

The Cochlear share price fell around 20% after the company released its half-year results in February, and the shares crashed another 41% in a day in late April after the company downgraded its guidance figures. 

What has driven the rebound?

There has clearly been a recovery of investor sentiment since April, and healthcare stocks have generally started attracting more interest from investors over the past couple of months.

In July, the company confirmed that its hearing implant systems will continue to be imported into the US duty-free after the US Government released its findings from a series of Section 301 investigations. The announcement helped ease US tariff issue concerns.

In mid-August, management posted its FY26 results. The announcement included underlying net profit of $322 million, down 22% but right at the top end of guidance.  

Looking ahead to FY27, Cochlear expects low-single-digit constant currency revenue growth and an underlying net profit between $330 million and $350 million. 

Investors were thrilled with the results and rushed to snap up the shares.

Now the question is, can the Cochlear share price keep climbing? Or is another crash coming?

Here’s what the experts think.

Can the Cochlear share price climb higher?

Looking ahead, I still see Cochlear as a strong, globally dominant business with its long-term outlook intact. I think the steep sell-off this year was overdone, and that the share price could quietly keep climbing higher.

But at the time of writing, it looks like the experts aren’t convinced. It looks like many are questioning whether Cochlear shares can stage a meaningful recovery over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a hold rating on Cochlear shares. But the $126.07 average target price now implies a potential 8% downside from the current trading price.

TradingView data is a little more positive. Again, the majority of analysts have a hold rating on the shares. The $142.26 average target price implies a potential 4% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

The post Cochlear share price rebounds 53% from 10-year low: Can it keep climbing? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares I think could return 10%+
• Cochlear vs Pro Medicus: Which beaten-down ASX healthcare share is the better buy today?
• 2 ASX shares I’d buy before they return to their 52-week highs
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• CSL led the ASX healthcare shares rebound. Can it continue?

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 Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.