When it comes to long-term investing, the goal isn't just finding Australian stocks that might rise over the next year or two. It is about owning high-quality businesses that can deliver growth, resilience, and compounding returns for decades.
Australia might not have as many global household names as the United States, but it does have its fair share of world-class companies.
If I were to pick three to buy today and hold forever, here are the stocks that I would choose.
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Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)
Goodman Group is one of the world's leading industrial property developers and managers.
What arguably sets Goodman apart is its ability to keep evolving with the times. Today, it is not just building traditional warehouses but also investing in next-generation facilities to support AI and data-driven industries. It has also just started to build data centres, which looks set to be its next key driver of growth.
With a strong balance sheet, global reach, and long-term customer relationships, Goodman looks well placed to continue compounding for shareholders well into the future.
Bell Potter is a big fan of Goodman and has a buy rating and $39.35 price target on its shares.
TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)
TechnologyOne has quietly become one of Australia's most reliable tech success stories. The enterprise software provider serves government bodies, universities, and corporations with mission-critical software. These are the kind of tools that are very hard to replace once embedded.
Its software-as-a-service (SaaS) transition has supercharged growth, with recurring revenues now making up the bulk of earnings. This means steady cash flows and less reliance on one-off contracts. With a 10 years+ record of dividend growth and a huge runway in both Australia and international markets, TechnologyOne is the kind of company I would be happy owning for life.
UBS currently rates TechnologyOne as a buy with a $42.20 price target.
WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)
Finally, WiseTech Global could be an Australian stock to buy and hold. It is a logistics software powerhouse whose CargoWise platform is used by freight forwarders and logistics providers all around the world. As global supply chains become more complex, businesses are increasingly reliant on technology like CargoWise to manage operations efficiently.
WiseTech's competitive advantage lies in its scale and sticky customer base. Once a logistics company integrates CargoWise into its workflow, switching providers becomes incredibly difficult. This gives the company strong pricing power and predictable revenue growth.
And with its continued global expansion and acquisitions adding to its reach and addressable market, this is another Australian stock I would happily hold forever.
Bell Potter is also a fan of WiseTech and has a buy rating and $135.00 price target on its shares.
