One of the best ways to grow your wealth is through buy and hold investing.
This style of investing takes full advantage of compounding, supercharging your returns over time.
But which ASX 200 blue chip shares would be good picks for buy and hold investors? Let's take a look at three that analysts rate as buys. They are as follows:
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)
If there's one company that deserves its reputation as a long-term compounding machine, it is CSL.
This global biotech leader has built a fortress-like business around plasma therapies. And with a deep pipeline of products, world-class research capabilities, and a truly global footprint, CSL has delivered for investors again and again — even through market turbulence.
While recent years have brought short-term challenges, analysts are expecting CSL to go through a period of strong earnings growth. So, with its shares still down materially from their highs, now could be an opportune time to buy.
Goldman Sachs certainly thinks this is the case. The broker recently put a buy rating and $307.30 price target on its shares.
James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)
Another ASX 200 blue chip share that could be a top pick for investors is James Hardie.
It is the dominant player in fibre cement and internal lining solutions — and it is particularly well positioned in the U.S. residential market, where a structural shift is taking place away from timber towards more durable and lower-maintenance options like fibre cement.
Bell Potter believes this macro trend is set to continue, giving James Hardie a powerful multi-year tailwind. It highlights that "JHX is poised for continued earnings expansion, driven by the structural shift towards fibre cement in the US."
The broker has a buy rating and $63.00 price target on its shares.
Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)
When it comes to long-term compounders on the ASX, Macquarie Group stands in a league of its own.
Unlike the big four banks, Macquarie isn't just focused on mortgages and term deposits — it's a diversified global powerhouse with exposure to infrastructure, asset management, commodities, and green energy finance. In fact, a significant of its earnings now come from offshore, giving investors access to themes well beyond the Australian economy.
What makes Macquarie truly unique is its entrepreneurial culture. It consistently finds new areas of opportunity — whether it's funding offshore wind farms, managing toll roads, or deploying capital into digital infrastructure. This ability to evolve and adapt is what has made it one of the most respected names in global finance.
Ord Minnett has an accumulate rating and $210.00 price target on its shares.
