5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026

These five are at the top of my list.

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Key points
  • Top ASX Picks for 2026: Explore five ASX shares, including Washington H. Soul Pattinson, REA Group, MFF Capital, Wesfarmers, and TechnologyOne, that are ideal for investment or reinvestment this year.
  • Investment Strategy Highlights: The focus is on companies with a history of market-beating returns, like Soul Patts with its strong dividend growth, and REA Group's dominance in property advertising amid competitive pressures.
  • Value and Growth Prospects: MFF Capital's undervalued high-quality US stocks, Wesfarmers' consistent capital growth, and TechnologyOne's promising enterprise growth despite price challenges offer varied avenues for potential gain.

Happy New Year! With the turning of the calendar, what better time to look ahead and discuss the ASX shares one would most like to buy, or buy more of, in 2026?

So today, let's get into five ASX shares I would love to pick up this year. Some I don't yet own, and some I already own but would love to buy more.

happy new financial year represented by fireworks

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5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)

This first pick will come as no surprise to some readers. I've long written about my love of this company, and 2026 is a year that I'm hoping to add even more shares of Soul Patts to my portfolio.

This investing house has a long track record of delivering market-beating returns. As of 23 September, shareholders have enjoyed a total return of 13.7% per annum over the previous 25 years. Soul Patts also has the ASX's best dividend growth streak, having raised its annual payouts every year since 1998. What more could one ask for from an ASX share?

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

I've long wanted to own REA Group shares, but the timing, and pricing, has never quite lined up for me. REA is the most dominant player in Australia's property advertising market.

Although REA's flagship realestate.com.au platform is facing some reinvigorated competition from the Co-Star-owned Domain, I think its supremacy is safe. As such, I would love to add this cash-generating machine to my portfolio this year. Australia's love affair with property looks likely to continue well into the future, and this is the perfect ASX share to play that trend.

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

Listed investment company (LIC) MFF Capital is next. MFF has been a portfolio staple of mine for years now. I love the management's focus on buying high-quality US stocks and letting them compound in its portfolio. Those US stocks include the likes of Amazon, American Express, Mastercard, Alphabet and Visa.

MFF is also a formidable dividend growth stock, having raised its annual dividend from 2 cents per share in 2017 to the 17 cents per share that investors enjoyed in 2025.

Despite a blowout performance in 2025, MFF Capital shares are still trading below their intrinsic value today. As such, I am hoping to add more to my portfolio in 2026.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is another company that I already own, but would love to buy even more of. This industrial and retail conglomerate is an ASX share that always seems to trade with an expensive price tag. That's understandable, given Wesfarmers owns some of the best businesses in the country. These include Kmart, Bunnings and OfficeWorks, as well as WesCEF and Priceline.

Wesfarmers has a long track record of delivering both capital growth and rising dividend income to its investors.

As such, I'll be watching Wesfarmers stock like a hawk in 2026. If the company goes back under $70 a share this year, I'll seriously be considering adding some more to my portfolio.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

Our final stock is tech darling TechnologyOne. I've long been impressed by this enterprise software company's growth and dividend scaling. TechnologyOne can seemingly do no wrong, with 2025 delivering another bumper set of results for the company and its investors.

The company's share price did have a bit of a tough year. But despite this, it is still looking pretty pricey as we start 2025, at least from my point of view. However, hope springs eternal, and I'm looking forward to seeing whether TechnologyOne gets down to a bargain price at some point this year. I'm very much hoping to have this stock happily in my portfolio by 31 December 2026.

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, American Express, Mastercard, Mff Capital Investments, Visa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Technology One, Visa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Mff Capital Investments, Technology One, Visa, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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