Broker names 3 ‘champion’ ASX 200 shares to buy and hold

If you’re a fan of buy and hold investing, then you may want to look at the “champion stocks” listed below.

These are the ASX shares that the team at Bell Potter believe would be great investments over a period of three to five years.

Here’s why these are three of the broker’s champion stocks:

CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

Bell Potter is a big fan of this biotherapeutics company due to its leadership position in plasma therapies, the impending acquisition of Swiss pharmaceutical company Vifor Pharma, and its ongoing research and development investment.

The broker explained:

A leading global company in the development, manufacture, and distribution of plasma therapies as well as non-plasma biotherapeutic products and influenza related products. The soon to be completed acquisition of Vifor Pharma will add global leadership in pharmaceutical products for renal disease and iron deficiency.

The global growth in plasma volumes is expected to be around a solid 8% per annum for the foreseeable future and, in addition, the group is planning to launch new products from its very extensive Research and Development portfolio.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Another ASX 200 share that Bell Potter believes could generate strong returns for investors over the long term is Netwealth. The broker believes the investment platform company is well-placed to benefit from a structural shift within the wealth management sector.

Bell Potter commented:

A specialist investment platform technology provider in Australia that offers investment management solutions to financial intermediaries, who provide financial advice on superannuation and other investments, and self-directed individuals who have chosen not to seek advice.

In recent years, the group has been taking market share from the institutional platform providers such as the major banks and other large diversified financial companies. Looking forward, a structural shift within the wealth management sector from large vertically integrated players towards the more independent players should further boost the group’s growth outlook.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

A final ASX 200 share that Bell Potter expects to be a long term market beater is Transurban. It is one of the world’s largest toll road operators and the owner of a portfolio of integral roads in Australia and North America. In addition, the company has a significant development pipeline which has the potential to underpin solid growth over the 2020s and 2030s.

The broker explained:

Australia’s largest builder, owner and operator of urban toll road networks. The group also has toll road assets in North America. The group’s current pipeline of growth projects is $3.9 billion (TCL’s share of total project cost) and further huge development opportunities are expected over the next few decades supported by population and economic growth.