When investing for the long term, the next few months are far less important.
What is important is whether your investments give you exposure to companies, industries, and regions that could still be relevant in a decade or two.
With that in mind, here are three top ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) that could be worth buying and holding for the long term.
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Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)
The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF gives investors exposure to some of the world's best growth companies.
This fund owns 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. Examples include Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).
What makes this fund attractive over a 20-year period is the way its holdings sit close to the big profit pools of the digital economy.
Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, chips, software, digital advertising, ecommerce, streaming, and consumer technology are not short-term market themes. They are areas where huge amounts of spending, talent, and innovation are likely to keep flowing.
Some companies in the fund will lose momentum over time. Others may become even more important. That is the advantage of using an ETF. Investors can own the broader ecosystem rather than trying to guess exactly which company will dominate in 2046.
Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)
The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF offers a different lens on technology.
Many investors look at tech through a US market lens, but Asia is central to the global digital economy. It is home to major businesses involved in semiconductors, memory chips, hardware, ecommerce, online platforms, gaming, and digital services.
Examples of holdings include SK Hynix (NASDAQ: SKHY) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM).
This fund is not a low-risk option. It is concentrated in one region and one sector, and investors need to be comfortable with volatility, currency movements, and geopolitical risk.
But the long-term case is still compelling. Asia is where a large part of the world's digital infrastructure is built, and it is also home to enormous consumer markets that continue to move online.
By 2046, the region's technology leaders could be playing an even larger role in global markets.
VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT)
The VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF gives investors a more selective way to own global shares.
This fund looks for international companies that are considered to have strong competitive advantages and are trading at attractive valuations.
That makes it different from a standard global ETF. Rather than just owning the largest companies in the market, this ASX ETF is trying to identify businesses with qualities that can protect profits over time. That could include strong brands, cost advantages, intellectual property, network effects, or high switching costs.
Examples of its holdings include Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and Nike (NYSE: NKE).
The fund's role in a long-term portfolio is discipline. It gives investors exposure to global businesses, but with a filter that looks beyond popularity and market size.
Over a long period, that combination of competitive strength and valuation awareness could be valuable as market leadership changes and investors move between different sectors, countries, and themes.
