Here are my best ASX shares of 2023 so far

Despite the rough year for shares, I've still got some winners.

Sebastian Bowen

Author Bio
Sebastian Bowen has been a Motley Fool contributor since late 2018.
Sebastian found his passion for writing and educating others about shares and all things finance after completing his studies in political, economic, and social science, and he enjoys bringing this passion to life at the Fool. His investment philosophy is simple – buying high-quality companies at sensible prices. When he’s not researching his next investment at all hours of the morning, Sebastian enjoys classic movies and unwinds with a good book, newspaper, or record.

Areas of Expertise
Dividend investing
ETFs

Education
Bachelor of Political, Economic, and Social Sciences (Government and International Relations), University of Sydney

Social Media
X/Twitter

Favorite Investment Quote
"In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine."
– Benjamin Graham

Published October 24, 2023 3:59 pm AEDT

It's no secret that 2023 has been a tough year for even the best ASX shares. Since the start of the calendar year, the ASX 200 has retreated by 1.3%, which isn't exactly what you want to see in late October.

But despite this sluggish performance from the broader market, I fortunately have a few stocks that have performed far better than the index. Let's discuss my best ASX shares.

Man raising both his arms in the air with a piggy bank on his lap, symbolising a record high. — Image source: Getty Images

3 of my best-performing ASX shares in 2023

Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM)

My position in ASX 200 gold miner Newcrest has been a bright star in my portfolio this year. Since January, the Newcrest share price has gained a healthy 15.3%, helping to buttress my portfolio against other losses.

There's no mystery with this one. The takeover offer from the giant US gold miner Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) has lit a fire under the Newcrest share price in 2023.

Shareholders in Newcrest will do especially well when the monster US$1.10 per share dividend is paid out in a few days' time, coming just after Newcrest is set to depart the ASX forever on 26 October.

BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: HNDQ)

This exchange-traded fund (ETF) has been another major winner in my ASX portfolio in 2023 to date. HNDQ units have bucked the ASX mightily, rising a very welcome 31.9% over the year so far.

The NASDAQ 100 ETF tracks the US NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX). This index houses most of America's large tech stocks, including Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Netflix and Amazon.

These stocks have done a lot better than most this year, which explains why this tech-heavy ETF has been such a winner.

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

Finally, let's talk about the listed investment company (LIC) MFF Capital. This LIC also holds mostly US shares, which again explains why investors have been benefitting from a stonking 28.6% runup in the MFF share price so far this year.

MFF holds a relatively concentrated portfolio of quality names, including Amazon, Alphabet, Mastercard and Visa. It manages this portfolio on behalf of its investors.

Unlike the HNDQ ETF, this ASX share isn't currency hedged, which means that the falling Australian dollar is giving its share price an extra boost. Needless to say, I've very much appreciated having this LIC as a core component of my portfolio. It is one of my best ASX shares in 2023 so far.

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