Yes, the headline does say "beginner" stocks.
And I will certainly fulfil that mission by revealing two ASX shares that would make an excellent starting core for a portfolio.
But, you know, I think it's a bit of a misnomer to call them beginner stocks.
Because if they're outstanding all-round investments, they should be great for every portfolio, not just for novices.
Whether you are a veteran or a rookie, you have the same goal — to maximise reliable returns over the long run.
And I believe these shares could meet that aim:
What do Mickey Mouse, Google, and Michael Jordan have in common?
A fantastic place to start for any portfolio are exchange-traded fund (ETF) stocks, because of the instant diversification effect that will reduce volatility.
And for me, one that ticks a lot of boxes is Vaneck Morningstar Wide Moat Etf (ASX: MOAT).
This fund simulates the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus NR AUD Index, which keeps track of US stocks that the research firm deems to have the widest "economic moats".
That is, it invests in businesses with the best competitive advantage over its rivals or potential challengers.
Currently the Wide Moat ETF holds names like Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE).
As well as paying out an irregular dividend, the ETF has gained 90% over the past five years.
The Internet also needs somewhere to live
The second stock that I like for the core of the portfolio is Goodman Group (ASX: GMG).
The industrial real estate group both develops and manages properties, which means it has future growth potential while also raking in revenue from existing assets.
Despite its involvement in a traditional sector, the types of real estate it manages — warehouses, logistics centres, and business parks — are all critical for e-commerce.
For example, one of its major clients is Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), which requires ever more warehousing space as the demand for online shopping grows.
Goodman Group is also delving into developing properties to house data centres, which is also a huge growth area with the insatiable demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI).
Goodman shares have returned 123% over the past five years, excluding a small dividend each year.
Professional investors are still bullish despite a 42% rocket since late October.
According to CMC Invest, eight out of 12 analysts currently rate Goodman shares as a buy.
