After a rough ride for global markets in April, investors are rightly wondering: is now the time to step back in?

For those sitting on the sidelines with fresh capital, the start of a new month brings new opportunity — especially if you're looking for high-quality ASX ETFs.

With sentiment shaken but fundamentals still strong, here's why investing $3,000 across these three ASX ETFs could be a smart move this May.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

April saw a notable pullback in US tech stocks as investors rotated away from high-multiple growth companies amid trade war concerns. But under the surface, the fundamentals of the Nasdaq 100 remain intact.

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF tracks the performance of 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq — including global leaders like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA, and Meta.

For long-term investors, pullbacks like April's offer the chance to accumulate quality growth at lower prices. With tech earnings holding up and innovation continuing at full speed, this looks like a compelling opportunity to buy the dip.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Markets across the US, Europe, and Asia came under pressure in April — driven by macro uncertainty, geopolitical tension, and concerns about trade wars. This broad-based weakness has left global equities trading below recent highs, and in many cases, at far more attractive valuations.

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF gives you exposure to around 1,500 large and mid-cap companies from developed markets — including the US, Japan, the UK, and Europe. It is a low-cost, highly diversified way to invest in the world's most established economies and industries.

When volatility spikes, it is diversification that keeps your portfolio resilient. And with global growth still ticking along, this ASX ETF is well placed to deliver long-term results from a moment of short-term fear.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

In uncertain markets, investors tend to look for companies with pricing power, strong margins, and business models that can withstand external shocks.

That's exactly what the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF delivers. This ASX ETF holds a concentrated portfolio of US companies that analysts believe have sustainable competitive advantages. It also blends in value by selecting stocks trading at attractive prices relative to their fair value.

With volatility returning and investor sentiment still shaky, this is the kind of quality-focused ASX ETF that tends to outperform in the recovery phase.