In investing, time is your greatest advantage, and quality is your best defence.
While short-term trades can grab headlines, it is long-term compounding that builds real wealth.
The challenge? Finding ASX 200 shares you can back with confidence and hold through whatever the market throws your way.
With that in mind, let's take a look at three ASX 200 shares that analysts rate highly and could be top options to buy and hold for the next 10 years. Here's what they are recommending:
Image source: Getty Images
Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)
Cochlear is a global leader in hearing implant technology and one of Australia's best examples of long-term innovation.
With more than 54,000 implantable hearing devices sold worldwide in FY 2025 and almost a million since its founding, Cochlear has built a strong competitive moat through its research and development focus, clinical relationships, and high switching costs.
The ASX 200 share operates in a growing market, driven by ageing populations, rising awareness of hearing health, and emerging middle classes in developing markets. This bodes well for its future growth.
The team at UBS is positive on Cochlear. It recently put a buy rating and $350.00 price target on its shares.
Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)
It is hard to find a more agile and forward-thinking financial institution than Macquarie Group.
The company has built a business that goes far beyond traditional banking. It is a global leader in asset management, infrastructure, energy transition financing, and structured finance, and has proven it can grow and evolve with the times.
Macquarie is also one of the few Aussie financials with truly global exposure, giving investors a powerful hedge against domestic slowdowns. Its ability to identify emerging opportunities, execute at scale, and deliver shareholder value has made it a standout performer over the past two decades.
The team at Ord Minnett appears to believe this can continue long into the future. It is positive on the investment bank and has a buy rating and $255.00 price target on its shares.
Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)
Finally, Wesfarmers may be best known for owning Bunnings, Kmart, and Officeworks, but its success comes from more than just retail dominance.
What makes Wesfarmers unique is its conglomerate model and disciplined capital allocation. Over the years, it has shown an ability to manage diverse businesses effectively, spin off or exit when the time is right, and reinvest into high-quality growth areas.
Overall, Wesfarmers combines defensive earnings from retail with exposure to emerging growth platforms like data, digital innovation, and clean energy through Covalent Lithium. This appears to have positioned it well to grow its earnings and dividends over the next decade.
Macquarie is a fan. It has an outperform rating and $91.00 price target on its shares.
