When I think about which stocks I want to own through 2026 and beyond, I'm not looking for the next hot trade or a quick bounce. I'm looking for businesses that can compound steadily, navigate uncertainty, and still look relevant several years from now.
Three ASX stocks I think tick these boxes are in this article. Here's why I would be comfortable buying today and holding them for the long term.
Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)
Zip is a stock that has gone through a painful reset, but that reset is exactly why I find it interesting today.
The buy now, pay later company has moved away from a growth-at-all-costs mindset and toward a far more disciplined operating model. Credit quality, cost control, and profitability now sit at the centre of the strategy, rather than raw transaction volume.
What gives me confidence in holding Zip in 2026 is its earnings trajectory. According to CommSec, consensus expectations point to earnings per share of 7.9 cents in FY26, rising to 12.1 cents in FY27. That kind of growth suggests operating leverage is beginning to work in shareholders' favour.
Zip still carries risk. Consumer spending conditions matter, and competition remains intense. But compared to prior years, the business looks more focused, more credible, and more aligned with sustainable earnings growth. If execution continues successfully in the huge US market, I think sentiment could continue to improve through 2026.
Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)
Sigma is an ASX stock I think is entering a very different phase of its life.
The merger with Chemist Warehouse in 2025 has reshaped the business, turning Sigma into a much larger and more strategically relevant player across pharmacy retail, franchising, and wholesale distribution. Today, the group supports hundreds of franchised pharmacies and supplies thousands more across Australia, giving it scale that few competitors can match.
What appeals to me in 2026 is the defensiveness of the end market combined with the opportunity for operational improvement. Demand for prescription medicines and frontline healthcare services is structural rather than cyclical, which provides a level of earnings resilience that many consumer-facing businesses lack.
The merger does introduce complexity, but if management delivers even modest efficiency gains across a much larger platform, Sigma's earnings profile could look meaningfully stronger over time.
It is for this reason that I would be comfortable buying and holding this one for the long term.
ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)
ARB is a company I associate with quality and long-term thinking.
While FY25 was a more challenging year, the underlying business remains solid. ARB continues to generate strong cash flows, operates with a net cash balance sheet, and invests heavily in product development, manufacturing automation, and international expansion.
What makes ARB interesting in 2026 is the growing contribution from offshore markets, particularly the United States. Export sales now represent a meaningful portion of revenue, and ARB's investments in US engineering, retail partnerships, and owned distribution channels appear to be gaining traction.
The business is not immune to currency movements or consumer cycles. But ARB's brand strength, product breadth, and disciplined capital management give it durability. I would be comfortable buying and holding ARB in 2026 as a high-quality industrial with long-term growth optionality.
The common thread
Zip, Sigma, and ARB are very different businesses, but they share one important characteristic. Each has entered 2026 with a clearer strategy and a more credible earnings outlook than in recent years.
None of these stocks are risk-free. But each offers exposure to improving fundamentals, structural demand drivers, or both. For investors willing to look beyond short-term noise, these are three ASX stocks that could be worthy of buy and hold investments.
