With over 200 companies spanning sectors from banking and biotech to mining and consumer goods, picking the right ASX 200 shares to buy can feel overwhelming.
But over the years, I've developed a simple checklist I run through when assessing a potential investment.
It's not foolproof, but it helps cut through the noise and focus on quality businesses with real long-term upside.
Here's what I look for.
Competitive advantages (or moat)
If a company doesn't have something that sets it apart, it can be vulnerable.
I look for businesses with clear competitive advantages — whether it is brand strength, scale, network effects, switching costs, or intellectual property. Think Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) in hearing implants or CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) in plasma-based therapies. These are companies that dominate their space and are difficult to dislodge.
If a business has pricing power and can fend off competitors, it has a better shot at growing profits over the long term.
Long growth runway
I want to invest in companies that aren't just winning today, but can keep winning for the next 5 to 10 years.
That means spotting structural trends — like the digitisation of business, the rise of renewable energy, or the shift to cloud software — and identifying companies that are riding those waves.
For example, WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) benefits from global trade digitalisation. Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) is riding the cloud software wave. If the story ends in two years, I'm not interested. I want compounders.
Profitability (or a clear path to it)
I'm not against investing in a business that's not yet profitable — but only if it has sufficient cash to get there, and a credible, scalable business model.
Burning cash without a clear plan or product-market fit is a red flag. But if the company is in investment mode and the runway is long enough, I'm happy to be patient — provided the rest of the fundamentals stack up.
For this reason, you won't find me investing in Brainchip Ltd (ASX: BRN), but you would have found me buying Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares a few years.
One of those shares is down 80% over the past three years and the other is up almost 600%. I'll let you guess which one is which.
Strong management
The best companies often have visionary, disciplined, and aligned leaders at the helm. Founder-led businesses can be a plus — think Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) or Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) — but I'm just as happy with seasoned professionals who know how to execute, allocate capital wisely, and communicate transparently. A company like Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) is an example of the latter.
If management regularly overpromises and underdelivers like Brainchip, I steer clear.
Fair valuation
I'm not hunting for "cheap" ASX 200 shares — I'm hunting for value.
Sometimes a high-quality business is worth paying up for, especially if growth is robust and margins are strong. That said, I want to understand what's already priced in? Are expectations reasonable? Is the valuation supported by fundamentals?
If everything goes right and the upside is still compelling, I'm interested. But if perfection is already baked in, I stay cautious.
Foolish takeaway
Investing in ASX 200 shares doesn't have to be complex. But it does require discipline.
My checklist — competitive advantage, growth runway, profitability, strong management, and fair valuations — helps me stay focused on quality and avoid hype.
Because in the end, great businesses held for the long term tend to do the heavy lifting. The key is picking them wisely in the first place.
