If you've been watching the market over the past few weeks, you'd be forgiven for thinking we've tumbled headfirst into a full-blown bear market. But despite the sharp pullback, particularly in tech stocks and global indices like the Nasdaq, the ASX 200 hasn't officially entered bear market territory.
Yes, we've had a correction — a drop of more than 10% from recent highs — but not the sustained 20% fall that defines a true bear market. That's an important distinction. Because while a correction can feel like the end of the world in the moment, it's often just a shakeout. A pause. A reset. Not a signal that the bull run is over.
In fact, history shows that corrections can lay the foundation for the next leg up. And while no one can predict exactly when the next rally will begin, now could be the time to start thinking like we're on the cusp of it — because by the time the headlines say that the bull market is back, the best opportunities will likely have passed.
What I'm buying for the next chapter
Whether you believe the bull market never left or is about to return, one thing is clear: now is the time to focus on quality.
I'm not looking for speculative names that might bounce hard in a rebound. I'm looking for companies — and ETFs — that I'd be happy to own for the next five, ten, or twenty years. The kind of investments that don't just survive a selloff, but get stronger through it.
That means businesses with sustainable competitive advantages. Companies that lead their industries, have pricing power, strong balance sheets, and global growth runways. Businesses that continue to compound earnings — and shareholder value — year after year, regardless of what the broader market is doing.
It also means leaning into ETFs that do the heavy lifting for you — screening for high-quality companies, applying smart methodologies, and offering diversified exposure to powerful long-term themes.
So, what's on my radar?
I'll be looking to top up my positions in companies I already know and trust — names that have delivered for years and still have plenty of growth ahead.
That includes:
- CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) – A global biotech leader with an enviable R&D pipeline and unmatched plasma network.
- Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) – A fast-fashion jewellery success story with an expanding global footprint and excellent store-level economics.
- WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) – A logistics tech giant with a long runway and dominant platform in the freight space.
- VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) – A curated portfolio of US companies with durable competitive advantages.
- Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) – Exposure to the world's biggest and most innovative tech names, now trading at more attractive prices.
Because whether we're already in the early stages of a new bull market — or just getting ready to turn the page — these are the kinds of investments I want leading the charge. Not just for the next few months, but for the long haul.
