I think most investors check their portfolios too often.
It's easy to get caught up in daily moves, headlines, and short-term noise. But in many cases, the best returns come from buying strong businesses and giving them time to execute.
If I wanted to keep things simple, these are three ASX shares I'd feel comfortable buying today and largely ignoring for the next 12 months.
Image source: Getty Images
Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)
Xero is one of those businesses where the day-to-day share price doesn't tell you much.
What matters is how many subscribers it's adding, how well it retains them, and how its margins evolve over time.
The company continues to build a global accounting platform that small and medium-sized businesses rely on. Once embedded, it becomes difficult to replace, which supports annual recurring revenue.
There's still a long runway for growth internationally, and I think the business could look meaningfully larger in a few years' time.
Short-term volatility wouldn't surprise me in the current environment, but over a year or more, I'd back the underlying momentum.
Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)
Coles is a very different type of investment.
It's not about rapid growth or big upside surprises. It's about consistency.
Supermarkets generate steady cash flow because people need groceries regardless of economic conditions. That reliability can be especially valuable when markets are uncertain.
Coles also has opportunities to improve margins through efficiency and supply chain investments, which could support gradual earnings growth.
It's the kind of business I'd feel comfortable owning without needing to check in constantly.
Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)
Goodman sits at the centre of a powerful trend.
It develops and manages logistics and industrial property, which underpins ecommerce, data infrastructure, and global supply chains.
As demand for warehouse space and data centres continues to grow, Goodman is well positioned to benefit.
What I like here is the combination of development upside and recurring income from its property portfolio.
It won't be immune to market movements, especially given its exposure to property cycles. But over time, I think its strategic positioning gives it a strong foundation for growth.
Foolish takeaway
If I were building a portfolio I didn't want to constantly monitor, I'd focus on businesses with clear roles.
Xero offers growth, Coles provides stability, and Goodman adds exposure to long-term infrastructure trends.
They're not the only options out there, but together they represent the kind of balance I'd be comfortable leaving alone and letting time do the heavy lifting.
