Christmas is meant to be a happy, merry time of the year. It's a great time to spend with your loved ones and not worry about the share market.
If you own a bunch of risky, speculative shares that you need to check every ASX trading day then Christmas won't be a relaxing time for you.
I much prefer the idea of owning shares that I can buy and not have to check in on them every day, every week or even every month.
Here are two shares to own for a relaxing and merry Christmas:
Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)
Soul Patts is one of the oldest shares on the ASX having been around for a century.
It's quite easy for a business to be disrupted in this modern world, which is why I think Soul Patts is a good buy-and-hold option. It is an investment conglomerate that buys stakes in other businesses.
Some of Soul Patts' largest investments are in businesses like TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM), Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API), Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) and Pitt Capital Partners. This is a diverse and growing bunch of investments, which is a very positive factor for Soul Patts.
It has been steadily growing its statutory profit, cash profit and dividend for shareholders over the decades. In-fact, it has grown its annual ordinary dividend every year since 2000.
I think Soul Patts is one of the safest businesses on the ASX. It's currently trading at 16x FY18's estimated earnings with a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.51%.
Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)
Ramsay is another long-term growth stalwart on the ASX. It's one of the world's largest private hospital operators.
I believe that private hospitals are going to become utilised more and more over the coming years as the growing number of retirees will require more trips to the hospital. A lot of those retirees will want to stay in nicer facilities than what may be available at their local public hospital.
Healthcare is a growing industry and Ramsay is one of the ones most likely to benefit.
Ramsay has grown its dividend every year since 2000 and I expect it's one of the shares most likely to be able to grow the dividend for another decade.
Ramsay is currently trading at 24x FY18's estimated earnings with a grossed-up dividend yield of 2.79%.
Foolish takeaway
Ramsay and Soul Patts have both traded at a cheaper price than today over the last year, but I think they would both be excellent long-term buys at today's prices. If I had to pick one I would lean towards Ramsay.
