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Best ASX 200 Stocks to Buy: 3 Companies to Watch

Written By: Varun Ratra   October 19, 2026
Varun Ratra

Written by

Varun Ratra

Oct 19, 2026  •  07:10 AM
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Looking for the best ASX 200 stocks to buy? Brambles, Rio Tinto and Aristocrat Leisure stand out for their competitive advantages, financial performance and long-term growth opportunities. Here’s what investors should know about each company.

3 Best ASX 200 Stocks to Buy

1. Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB)

Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB) is one of the best ASX 200 stocks to buy for investors researching global logistics businesses with established competitive advantages. The company operates the CHEP pallet-pooling network and has a market capitalisation of $27.18 billion, alongside an annual partially franked dividend yield of 3.20%.

In FY2026, Brambles generated US$7.04 billion in revenue, up 2% at constant currency. Underlying profit grew 4% to US$1.49 billion, while free cash flow before dividends reached US$1.05 billion.

Brambles’ competitive advantages include its circular share-and-reuse model and a global network of approximately 352 million pallets, crates and containers. The company operates across around 60 countries, supported by more than 750 service centres.

Recent corporate developments include the announcement of an on-market share buy-back programme worth up to US$400 million.

Looking ahead, Brambles expects revenue growth of 2–4% in FY2027 and underlying profit growth of 2–6%. Free cash flow before dividends is forecast to reach US$800 million–US$950 million.

Its global network, reusable asset model and cash generation make Brambles a company to watch among ASX 200 stocks.

2. Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO)

Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) is one of the world’s major diversified mining companies, with a market capitalisation of $57.45 billion and an annual fully franked dividend yield of 4.29%.

In the first half of 2026, Rio Tinto generated US$31.03 billion in revenue. Underlying EBITDA rose 28% to US$14.83 billion, while underlying earnings increased 43% to US$6.85 billion.

In its latest third-quarter update, dated 14 October 2026, the company reported a 3% increase in global iron ore sales to 90.8 million tonnes. Copper production at Oyu Tolgoi also rose 27%, supported by the ramp-up of underground operations.

A key growth catalyst is the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea. The project reached an annualised production run rate of approximately 10 million tonnes in the third quarter and remains on track to achieve annual production of 60 million tonnes in the second half of 2028.

Rio Tinto’s earnings growth, diversified mining operations and major development projects make it worth monitoring when researching the best ASX 200 stocks to buy.

3. Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) is a global gaming content and technology company with a market capitalisation of $36.91 billion and a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 26.25. Its global operations provide exposure to the gaming industry.

In HY2026, Aristocrat reported segment revenue of $3.03 billion, up 6.4% at constant currency. NPATA increased 16.3% to $794 million at constant currency.

The company’s competitive advantages include an established portfolio of gaming brands, proprietary content, a global distribution network and long-standing customer relationships. Its regulatory expertise across more than 350 licensed jurisdictions also supports its ability to protect market share and commercialise games across multiple channels.

Recent developments include the acquisitions of Gaming Analytics and Awager, alongside a strategic exit from its White Label business as the company focuses on higher-priority opportunities.

Management expects NPATA to grow in FY2026, supported by anticipated market-share gains across Aristocrat Gaming, Product Madness and Interactive. Aristocrat Interactive has also set a revenue target of US$1 billion by FY2029.

Its proprietary gaming content, international reach and expansion plans make Aristocrat Leisure another company to watch among the best ASX 200 stocks to buy.

Source: Company announcements.


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