When investors talk about buying shares to hold forever, they are usually referring to businesses with durable competitive advantages, long growth runways, and the ability to adapt as markets evolve.
These are not companies that rely on perfect economic conditions or short-term trends. Instead, they tend to sit at the centre of powerful structural shifts and compound steadily over many years.
With that in mind, here are two ASX 200 stocks that could fit comfortably into a long-term portfolio in 2026 and beyond.
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Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)
I think it is fair to say that Goodman Group has quietly built one of the strongest long-term growth stories on the Australian share market.
While it is often classified as a property stock, Goodman is far more than a traditional landlord. Its business is deeply embedded in global logistics, industrial property, and increasingly, digital infrastructure. This gives it exposure to some of the most powerful themes shaping the global economy, including ecommerce, supply chain modernisation, and growing data consumption.
What sets this ASX 200 stock apart from the rest is its development-led model. Rather than simply collecting rent, the company earns attractive returns by developing high-quality assets in prime locations, often alongside global capital partners. This capital-light approach allows Goodman to scale without overburdening its balance sheet.
As demand grows for data centres, automation-ready warehouses, and strategically located logistics hubs, Goodman appears well positioned to keep expanding its earnings base. For patient investors, this combination of global reach, structural tailwinds, and disciplined execution could make Goodman a compelling long-term holding.
TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)
TechnologyOne is one of the most reliable ASX 200 stocks out there, yet it often flies under the radar compared to higher-profile technology names.
The company provides mission-critical enterprise software to governments, local councils, universities, and large organisations. These customers value reliability, deep functionality, and long-term partnerships, which historically results in exceptionally sticky revenue and low churn.
Over recent years, TechnologyOne has successfully transitioned to a pure software-as-a-service model, dramatically improving revenue quality and visibility. Today, the vast majority of its income is recurring, providing a strong foundation for future growth.
What makes TechnologyOne particularly attractive for a buy-and-hold strategy is its clear ambition to keep scaling over time. Management continues to invest heavily in product development, international expansion, and new functionality, while maintaining strong profitability and cash generation.
In fact, management believes it can double in size every five years. And with a long runway in overseas markets and increasing adoption of cloud-based enterprise software, I think it can too.
