Investing in the world's best companies no longer requires an overseas trading account or sleepless nights tracking US markets.
Thanks to a growing number of international-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the ASX, Aussie investors can gain exposure to elite global businesses in just a few clicks.
If you want to back innovation, resilience, and long-term performance — these three ASX ETFs could be worth a closer look.
iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
When it comes to owning a piece of the world's most influential companies, few ASX ETFs are more direct than the iShares S&P 500 ETF. It tracks the S&P 500, which is the benchmark index of America's largest and most powerful businesses.
You'll find the biggest names in tech and consumer goods here. This includes Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). But dig deeper and you'll also find companies like Home Depot (NYSE: HD) and AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), offering exposure beyond the mega-cap headline names.
With a low management fee and broad diversification, this fund is often considered a core portfolio building block for long-term global exposure.
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)
If you're after businesses with sustainable competitive advantages, then the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF stands out. This ASX ETF selects US companies that are best positioned to maintain high returns over time due to brand power, network effects, cost advantages, and other structural strengths.
Its current holdings include Boeing (NYSE: BA), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), along with under-the-radar stars like Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) and MarketAxess (NASDAQ: MKTX). These are quality businesses that may not always make the news, but often dominate in their industries.
This could make the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF a compelling option for investors who want to invest like Warren Buffett — focusing on quality, fair value, and long-term staying power.
Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)
Finally, the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF provides exposure to global companies with strong balance sheets, high profitability, and consistent earnings growth. It is designed to capture the essence of investing in quality — and it does so without a home-country bias.
Its holdings include ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), a sleep disorder treatment giant; Accenture (NYSE: ACN), a global leader in consulting and tech services; and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), the Danish pharmaceutical giant behind some of the world's most in-demand diabetes and weight-loss treatments.
For those looking to invest in businesses with durable fundamentals and global reach, this fund offers a focused and disciplined approach. It was recently named as one to buy by analysts at Betashares.
