A 25-year time frame changes the way investors should think about ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs).
Short-term market swings become less important. What matters more is whether the fund gives exposure to businesses, regions, or industries that can keep growing through multiple cycles.
With that in mind, here are five ASX ETFs that could be worth buying and holding for the next quarter of a century.
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Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)
The first ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.
It gives investors exposure to many of the companies that have reshaped the modern economy. These businesses sit behind search, cloud computing, streaming, digital advertising, software, artificial intelligence, and consumer technology.
Its holdings include names such as Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).
The fund can be volatile, but for patient investors, it offers exposure to some of the strongest long-term growth engines in global markets.
iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
Another ASX ETF that could be held for decades is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.
This popular fund tracks the S&P 500 index, which is widely viewed as the benchmark for the US share market.
It gives investors exposure to hundreds of large American companies across technology, healthcare, financials, industrials, consumer goods, and more. This includes Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT).
The strength of IVV is its breadth. Investors do not need to know which sector will dominate the next 25 years. The fund provides exposure to a large part of the US economy and naturally evolves as market leadership changes.
Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)
A third ASX ETF worth considering is the Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF.
It gives investors exposure to global share markets outside the United States. This includes developed markets such as Europe and Japan, as well as emerging markets across Asia, Latin America, and other regions.
Its holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Samsung Electronics, and Nestle (SWX: NESN).
This makes the ETF useful for investors who already have US exposure and want to broaden their global reach.
Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)
Another ASX ETF with a long-term growth theme is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.
Automation is likely to become more important over the next few decades as businesses look to improve productivity, reduce costs, and operate with greater precision.
This fund gives investors exposure to companies involved in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and related technologies.
Its holdings include Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Keyence (TYO: 6861), and ABB (SWX: ABBN).
If automation becomes more deeply embedded across the global economy, the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF could be well placed to benefit over a long holding period.
It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.
VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)
A fifth ASX ETF to look at is the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF.
It focuses on international companies with strong quality characteristics. These can include high returns on equity, stable earnings, and low financial leverage.
That gives the fund a different role from a standard global index ETF. It is not simply buying companies because they are large. It is applying a quality filter to global markets.
Its holdings include NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Visa (NYSE: V), and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY).
Over 25 years, quality can matter a lot. Companies with strong balance sheets, durable earnings, and high profitability are often better placed to reinvest, survive downturns, and keep compounding.
This fund was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.
