NEWS
17 Oct 2022 - New Funds on Fundmonitors.com
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New Funds on FundMonitors.com |
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Below are some of the funds we've recently added to our database. Follow the links to view each fund's profile, where you'll have access to their offer documents, monthly reports, historical returns, performance analytics, rankings, research, platform availability, and news & insights. |
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| Alceon Real Estate Corporate Senior Master Fund | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Bell Global Sustainable Fund (Hedged) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Bell Global Sustainable Fund (Unhedged) | |||||||||||||||||||
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17 Oct 2022 - The Inflation Reduction Act will drive US' efforts towards net-zero
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The Inflation Reduction Act will drive US' efforts towards net-zero 4D Infrastructure September 2022
What is the Inflation Reduction Act? On 16 August 2022, President Biden signed the IRA into law having passed through Congress based on the Democrats holding a majority in both houses. The IRA includes US$369 billion in climate and energy spending, the largest energy transition focused spending package ever in the US. It's expected to put the US on track to achieve a 40% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction against 2005 levels by 2030[1] - which is still a little off Biden's communicated target of a 50-52% reduction[2]. Background to the legislation The components within the IRA were derived from the larger legislative package proposed by the Democrats, the Build Back Better Act (BBB), which was abandoned due to its perceived impact on the budget deficit. Moderate Democrat senator, Rep Manchin, was a key objector to BBB, but was convinced of the merits of the IRA and had the deciding vote in pushing the legislation through the Senate and signed into law. What is included in the package? The IRA spending package incorporates a number of high-level targets, with spending allocated to each. These goals include[3]:
The spending package is primarily financed through the establishment of a new minimum corporate tax rate of 15%, and increased powers of the Internal Revenues Service (IRS) to enforce tax payment. Specific support mechanisms to assist in facilitating the energy transition process are included in the table below. These are intended to improve the economics of clean/renewable energy production to incentivise their adoption. This is not an exhaustive list of mechanisms included in the IRA. Source: White & Case: Inflation Reduction Act Offers Significant Tax Incentives Targeting Energy Transition and Renewables Benefits for US infrastructure-focused companies The IRA improves the economics of clean/renewable energy production for utilities and contracted generation companies in 4D's investment universe. This in turn improves their competitiveness, fast tracks investment and theoretically boosts earnings growth. It should also reduce the cost of energy for the end customer through the application of regulation or competitive dynamics. Regulated energy production Regulation sets the level of returns that utilities can earn on renewable and clean energy investments. Therefore, the improved economics of renewables and clean energy production facilitated through the IRA is passed onto customers through lower energy bills. This improved customer affordability and bill headroom allows utilities to increase the level of investment in the energy transition and grid support, while maintaining affordability. This increased investment is expected to improve earnings growth. Specific regulated utility companies that are likely to benefit from mechanisms included in the IRA include American Electric Power (AEP-US), CMS Corp (CMS-US) and Portland General Electric (POR-US). Contracted energy production For contracted generation companies, or companies that produce clean energy fuels (clean hydrogen, carbon capture) under long-term contractual arrangements, the IRA should result in improved returns. Although, depending on the intensity of competition, these improved returns could be diminished in exchange for lower energy costs for customers. All scenarios should incentivise increased investment and growth for companies. A number of large European-based renewable/clean energy developers have indicated optimism associated with the IRA including Enel SpA (ENEL-MI), Energias de Portugal SA (EDP-LS) and Iberdrola SA (IBE-ES). A standout US contracted generation developer which is likely to benefit from the IRA is NextEra Energy (NEE-US). Midstream oil/gas Midstream companies which are attempting to extend the longevity of their business model by diversifying away from fossil-based commodities to clean fuels such as biofuels, renewable diesel, renewable natural gas, low/no carbon hydrogen and facilitating carbon capture, are likely to have more investment opportunities due to the IRA. The tax credits, rebates, and grants supporting these newer clean fuels improve their economics, making them a more attractive (and realistic) investment proposition. Midstream names such as Kinder Morgan Inc (KMI-US) are going to benefit from the improved carbon capture tax credits, while Enbridge Inc (ENB-CN) investment opportunities will improve through a number of the clean energy credits. Unknown impacts of the legislation As outlined, the spending package is expected to be partially financed through the implementation of a minimum corporate tax rate. The impact on infrastructure companies' cashflow will depend on individual company factors, but could have detrimental ramifications for some. Conclusion The IRA's passage into law in a major piece of legislation in supporting the US' efforts to decarbonise its economy while supporting efforts to develop vertical supply chains for clean/renewable energy in the US. The many support mechanisms included in the legislation primarily improve the economics of clean/renewable energy, and reduce the end cost for customers. Specific infrastructure companies in 4D's investment portfolio that are likely to benefit from the legislation include NextEra, American Electric Power, Enel, CMS Corp, Iberdrola and Kinder Morgan. |
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Funds operated by this manager: 4D Global Infrastructure Fund, 4D Emerging Markets Infrastructure Fund[1] Environmental and Energy Study Institute: Historic US$369 Billion Investment in Climate Solutions Preserves a Pathway to Keep Global Warming Below 1.5°C - 16 August 2022 [2] President Biden Sets 2030 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Target Aimed at Creating Good-Paying Union Jobs and Securing U.S. Leadership on Clean Energy Technologies - 22 April 2022 [3] Summary of the Energy Security and Climate Change Investments in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 - https://www.democrats.senate.gov/summary-of-the-energy-security-and-climate-change-investments-in-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022 [4] The Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements are measures which aim to ensure that 1) contractors and subcontractors are paid in line with commensurate job wage requirements; and 2) a proportion of the workforce are filled by qualified apprentices. The content contained in this article represents the opinions of the authors. The authors may hold either long or short positions in securities of various companies discussed in the article. This commentary in no way constitutes a solicitation of business or investment advice. It is intended solely as an avenue for the authors to express their personal views on investing and for the entertainment of the reader. |
14 Oct 2022 - The energy crisis is likely to last years
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The energy crisis is likely to last years Magellan Asset Management September 2022 |
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Europe is restarting mothballed coal-based power plants because the benchmark electricity price has exceeded 1,000% above its average of the past decade (where prices are set by the marginal cost of the last unit - essentially, the most expensive unit - of energy purchased to balance demand).[1] Electricity prices are spiralling because the cost of natural gas, the marginal fuel in most European electricity markets, has soared 1,300% above its decade average - the shock would be like oil nearing US$550 a barrel. The EU, in response, is imposing wartime-like price controls, rationing and a windfall tax on energy companies.[2] In the UK, the prospect of household energy bills jumping by 9 percentage points of GDP[3] has prompted London to announce emergency measures that, at an estimated cost of 150 billion pounds, is double the cost of the pandemic furlough scheme, and to reallow shale-gas fracking.[4] Norway, where hydropower generates 90% of local needs, may curb the export of electricity,[5] raising concerns cross-border flows could drop, even collapse, across Europe. French nuclear power output is diving due to maintenance and repairs - Électricité de France is only operating 26 of the country's 57 reactors.[6] President Emmanuel Macron, who is fully nationalising the troubled nuclear operator, warns of the "end of abundance".[7] Germany is worried that rage over energy prices driving inflation to near-50-year highs could turn violent.[8] Kosovo is facing two-hour blackouts every six hours, the first European country to display this feature of a failed state.[9] In China, daily hydro generation from the Three Gorges dam on the Yangtze River has dived 51%. Factories have suspended operations and cities are dimming lights.[10] Japan is overcoming its Fukushima fears and returning to nuclear power. Southeast Asia is using coal to replace the liquified natural gas diverted to Europe. South Asia is suffering blackouts because energy is unaffordable. US natural gas prices in August breached US$10 per million BTU, a 400% increase on the recent years, due to demand from Europe. The world faces its biggest energy crisis since the 1970s when soaring oil prices helped create the stagflation for which the decade is renowned. Today's energy blow could be crueller because the energy industry, having overcome the pandemic disruptions that boosted prices for hydrocarbons, is beset by three challenges (broadly defined with some overlap) that are set to persist, if not worsen. The first challenge is the unfavourable state of global politics. Europe's torment is due to the significant cuts to the supply of Russian oil and natural gas that accounted for 40% of its energy needs. Moscow has weaponised gas supplies to inflict economic pain on Europe to undermine public support for arming Ukraine, while the West is seeking to restrict Russian oil sales. Oil and gas prices are likely to stay elevated in the near term because the world's energy system cannot quickly replace Russia's lost hydrocarbons, which equate to about 10% of global energy production.[11] The Middle East is another concern. The return of Iranian oil to world markets could help Europe overcome the loss of Russian crude. But this depends on restoring the agreement on Iran's nuclear capabilities between Iran and the EU, Germany and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - one of which is Iran's ally, Russia.[12] Moscow could easily delay any new agreement or ensure that any restored pact is short-lived. The second big challenge for energy markets relates to climate change. Droughts and heatwaves in China, Europe and North America are hampering hydropower electricity generation (China, Italy, Norway, Spain and Portugal) while boosting demand beyond capacity to cope (the US). France's nuclear-based EDF has cut production because receding rivers make it harder to cool reactors. Another angle to climate change is that renewable energy generation has not reached a level whereby it can compensate for Russia's lost fossil fuels, hence the return to coal in Europe. Prior to the Ukraine war, Europe already had depleted energy storage due to a less-windy-than-usual weather idling wind farms, a problem worsened by Russia's Gazprom withholding gas above contracted amounts, contrary to normal practice, ahead of the Ukraine invasion.[13] The third challenge for energy markets is overcoming policymaker mistakes. The biggest error is that Europe, notably Germany, became overly dependent on Russian energy, especially natural gas that is not as easy as coal or oil to replace. A second mistake is France has failed to keep operational the country's nuclear reactors that were mostly built in the 1980s and typically supply 70% of the country's power needs.[14] A third error, many would argue, is the world's turn away from nuclear energy after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Many would say that a fourth blunder was not investing enough in renewables.[15] Plenty of blame will flow if the rising prices that are creating huge paper losses for utilities on Europe's energy derivatives markets spark financial instability.[16] Governments, aware of the risk, have acted to ensure energy companies can meet collateral obligations. Today's energy crisis is still unfolding. The crisis-magnifying characteristics of energy markets - that inelastic demand maximises price increases when supply is troubled - give entrepreneurs the incentive to remedy these shortages. In time, the promise of profit will calm the energy crisis with clean solutions that snap Western dependence on despots. In the meantime, however, the disruption to French nuclear power, European hydropower and Russian gas and higher oil prices could cut global living standards, boost inflation, trigger a recession or worse in Europe, hound those in power, widen inequality within and between countries, trigger social unrest, spark industrial conflict and impede the fight against climate change. The damage inflicted just in Europe will likely make the 2020s energy crisis worse than that of the 1970s. To be sure, this is a crisis centred in Europe and favourable developments in relation to the Ukraine war could calm things. Droughts will break and heatwaves pass. Maybe a sunny, warm and windy winter in Europe and energy substitution and conservation [17] will ease power costs. Efforts are underway to fill gas storage facilities across Europe - but, even at capacity, storage is a fraction of normal winter demand. Countries with gas and other energy reserves such as Algeria, Australia, Qatar and the US stand to gain. The recent fall in oil prices relieves some inflationary pressure.[18] But spot oil prices have declined on China's pandemic lockdowns and concerns about a European recession. The energy crisis largely created by Russia's missing fossil fuels might best be viewed as shorthand for a series of crises around climate change, government finances, inequality, inflation, politics and social cohesion as well. Policymakers have much to solve before European gas and oil prices drop to anywhere near their pre-crisis averages. The blind spot In 2001, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the German parliament and in flawless German expressed a desire for warmer ties with the West. "Russia is a friendly European nation," Putin declared. German lawmakers leapt up in applause. One biographer of Angela Merkel wonders: Did Putin notice that in the second row of the Bundestag chamber, an unsmiling future chancellor who grew up in East Germany and spoke Russian remained seated? Merkel barely clapped. She knew KGB "values, loyalties and training are not so easily shed".[19] In 2020, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny collapsed after being poisoned with a nerve agent. He survived only because Merkel arranged for Navalny to be medivacked to Berlin. But even as Navalny lay in a coma in the Charité hospital, Merkel refused to cancel the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would double the amount of gas pumped from Russia across the Baltic Sea to Germany.[20] Nord Stream 1, which has operated since 2011, carries 55 billion m3 of gas a year. Merkel's willingness to allow Germany to become dependent on Russian gas is now regarded as her blind spot. "Every time Obama asked Merkel why she was going ahead with Nord Stream 2, Merkel gave a different answer," a national security adviser to the US administration of Barack Obama recalls.[21] Other German policymakers were just as short-sighted. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and others in the German delegation smirked when Donald Trump in 2018 warned Germany it would become "totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course".[22] The German laughter reflected the country's desire to reduce reliance on coal to mitigate climate change, eradicate nuclear power plants for safety reasons, save money, and a hope that greater economic ties would improve political ties with Russia. Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted Germany to block Nord Stream 2. In retaliation, Russia is stifling flows through Nord Stream 1 and Europe is turning to LNG and other fossil fuels. In time, the investment underway in renewables will be a big part of how Europe escapes the folly of relying on a non-renewable fossil fuel under the stranglehold of a hostile autocrat. Once Europe has secured affordable and clean energy, it will be able to close for good those coal plants being refired to overcome today's energy emergency. Global price of natural gas, EU
Sources: Company filings Author: Michael Collins, Investment Specialist |
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Funds operated by this manager: Magellan Global Fund (Hedged), Magellan Global Fund (Open Class Units) ASX:MGOC, Magellan High Conviction Fund, Magellan Infrastructure Fund, Magellan Infrastructure Fund (Unhedged), MFG Core Infrastructure Fund [1] Europe adopted this marginal-cost policy to prod investment in renewables. The marginal cost of wind and sun creating more power is theoretically close to zero while the marginal cost for fossil-fuel-based production is the cost of the coal or gas. See Yanis Varoukakis, former Greek minister of finance. 'Time to blow up electricity markets.' Project Syndicate. 29 August 2022. project-syndicate.org/commentary/marginal-cost-pricing-for-electricity-disastrous-in-europe-by-yanis-varoufakis-2022-08 [2] European Commission. '2022 state of the union address by President von der Leyen.' 14 September 2022. ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/ov/SPEECH_22_5493 [3] Carbon Brief, UK website focused on climate change. 'Analysis: Why UK energy bills are soaring to record highs - and how to cut them.' 12 August 2022. Household energy bills could rise from 4.5% of UK GDP in 2020 to 13.4% of output by next April. Household energy bills include energy spending on homes and cars. carbonbrief.org/analysis-why-uk-energy-bills-are-soaring-to-record-highs-and-how-to-cut-them/ [4] UK Prime Minister's Office. 'PM Liz Truss's opening speech on the energy policy debate.' 8 September 2022. Renewable and nuclear generators will move onto contracts for difference to end the situation where electricity prices are set by the marginal price of gas. gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-liz-trusss-opening-speech-on-the-energy-policy-debate [5] The grid operators of Denmark, Finland and Sweden condemned the move in what should be a border-less market. 'Nordic cooperation - More needed than ever to ensure electricity supply.' Energinet. 19 August 2022. en.energinet.dk/About-our-news/News/2022/08/19/Nordic-cooperation-more-needed-than-ever-to-ensure-electricity-supply [6] Javier Blas. 'Paris faces an even colder, darker winter than Berlin.' Bloomberg News. 29 July 2022. bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-07-29/european-energy-crisis-paris-may-be-first-to-suffer-blackouts-this-winter [7] 'Macron warns of 'end of abundance' as France faces difficult winter.' The Guardian. 25 August 2022. theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/24/macron-warns-of-end-of-abundance-as-france-faces-difficult-winter. / [8] See World in depth. 'Extremists plan 'autumn of rage' to exploit cost of living crisis in Germany.' The Times. 25 August 2022. thetimes.co.uk/article/extremists-plan-autumn-of-rage-to-exploit-cost-of-living-crisis-in-germany-ht6sm5hbc. German inflation reached 8.8% in the year to August. [9] Andrea Dudik. 'A corner of Europe starts living with blackouts again.' Bloomberg News. 26 August 2022. bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-26/europe-energy-crisis-kosovo-learns-to-live-with-rolling-power-blackouts-again [10] Bloomberg News. 'Power crunch in Sichuan adds to industry's woes in China.' 21 August 2022. bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-21/power-crunch-in-sichuan-adds-to-manufacturers-woes-in-china2 [11] International Energy Agency. 'Energy fact sheet: Why does Russian oil and gas matter?' 21 March 2022. iea.org/articles/energy-fact-sheet-why-does-russian-oil-and-gas-matter [12] The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015 that restricts Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons collapsed when the US withdrew in 2018. [13] Russia refused to supply extra gas to Europe to make up for the shortage of wind-driven power. The speculation is the Kremlin instructed Gazprom not to supply extra gas in anticipation it would be weaponising gas after it invaded Ukraine. [14] The industry failed to invest to sustain the reactors and failed to maintain its engineering expertise. See 'French nuclear power crisis frustrates Europe's push to quit Russian energy.' The New York Times. 18 June 2022. nytimes.com/2022/06/18/business/france-nuclear-power-russia.html [15] See Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency. 'Three myths about the global energy crisis.' Financial Times. 6 September 2022. ft.com/content/2c133867-7a89-44d0-9594-cab919492777 [16] See ''Lehman event' looms for Europe as energy companies face $1.5T in margin calls.' Oilprice.com. 6 September 2022. See also The Economist, Free Exchange 'Europe's energy market was not built for this crisis.' 8 September 2022. economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/09/08/europes-energy-market-was-not-built-for-this-crisis [17] See Chris Giles. 'Europe can withstand a winter recession.' Financial Times. 10 August 2022. ft.com/content/c9ec6d9d-a015-402c-a06e-f61b6ad87f92 [18] The US plan to impose a price cap on Russian oil shipments is prompting Russian oil companies to offer discounts on long-term contracts. See Julian Lee. 'Russian oil producers feel the heat' Bloomberg News. 25 August 2022. bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-08-25/russian-oil-producers-feel-the-heat-elements-by-julian-lee [19] Kati Marton. 'The chancellor. The remarkable odyssey of Angela Merkel.' William Collins 2021. Paperback. Page 108. [20] Marton. Op cit. Pages 112 to 113. [21] Marton. Op cit. Pages 113 to 114. [22] 'Trump accused Germany of becoming 'totally dependent' on Russian energy at the UN. The Germans just smirked.' The Washington Post. 25 September 2018. washingtonpost.com/world/2018/09/25/trump-accused-germany-becoming-totally-dependent-russian-energy-un-germans-just-smirked/ Important Information: This material has been delivered to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited ABN 31 120 593 946 AFS Licence No. 304 301 ('Magellan') and has been prepared for general information purposes only and must not be construed as investment advice or as an investment recommendation. This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer documentation, offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for interests in any type of investment product or service. You should read and consider any relevant offer documentation applicable to any investment product or service and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any investment decision. A copy of the relevant PDS relating to a Magellan financial product or service may be obtained by calling +61 2 9235 4888 or by visiting www.magellangroup.com.au. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of any strategy, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to be implemented and its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. This material may contain 'forward-looking statements'. Actual events or results or the actual performance of a Magellan financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. Magellan makes no guarantee that such information is accurate, complete or timely and does not provide any warranties regarding results obtained from its use. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material. Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Magellan. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Any trademarks, logos, and service marks contained herein may be the registered and unregistered trademarks of their respective owners. This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Magellan. |
13 Oct 2022 - Altor AltFi Income Fund - September 2022 Quarterly Webinar Update
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Webinar Registration: Altor AltFi Income Fund - Quarterly Webinar Update
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13 Oct 2022 - Sector Spotlight: Tabcorp
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Sector Spotlight: Tabcorp Airlie Funds Management July 2022 |
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Hear from Joe Wright as he provides a backdrop on Seven Group; a diversified investment business operating mining and industrials companies including WesTrac, Coates and Boral. Speaker: Will Granger, Equities Analyst Funds operated by this manager: Important Information: Units in the fund(s) referred to herein are issued by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946, AFS Licence No. 304 301) trading as Airlie Funds Management ('Airlie') and has been prepared for general information purposes only and must not be construed as investment advice or as an investment recommendation. This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer documentation, offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for interests in any type of investment product or service. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement ('PDS') and Target Market Determination ('TMD') and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making a decision to acquire, or continue to hold, the relevant financial product. A copy of the relevant PDS and TMD relating to an Airlie financial product or service may be obtained by calling +61 2 9235 4760 or by visiting www.airliefundsmanagement.com.au. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of any financial product or service, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to implement its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. This material may contain 'forward-looking statements'. Actual events or results or the actual performance of an Airlie financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. Airlie makes no guarantee that such information is accurate, complete or timely and does not provide any warranties regarding results obtained from its use. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material. Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Airlie. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Any third party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners and Airlie claims no ownership in, nor any affiliation with, such trademarks. Any third party trademarks that appear in this material are used for information purposes and only to identify the company names or brands of their respective owners. No affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement should be inferred from the use of these trademarks.. This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Airlie. |
12 Oct 2022 - Which companies are posting strong and growing results?
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Which companies are posting strong and growing results? Insync Fund Managers September 2022 Well, we said things would be positive but volatile for a while yet and we weren't wrong. In this article, we provide examples of companies that we hold which are posting strong and growing results. Yet, their stock prices are slightly down as the world frets about big-picture issues that most of our companies aren't all that impacted by. The 'Lipstick Effect' is just one way they remain resilient, and we look at two holdings doing well from this. Our funds remain ahead of their stated 5-year objectives after fees, even with present shorter-term lows and volatility. The key to this is understanding how earnings eventually are reflected in stock prices and which companies do this well. Patience rewards. It was another volatile month for stock prices as markets focus more on the macroeconomic landscape. This sees most stocks being treated the same, no matter their specific financial circumstances. As markets are presently concerned with short term interest rate hikes, even quality companies posting great results (despite inflation and interest rate settings) are tarred with the same brush as those that are impacted. This is nothing out of the ordinary for this stage of the cycle. Whilst inflation has peaked and gradually heads down, markets are now trying to anticipate what impact higher interest rates will have on the global economy and corporate earnings. The benefit of investing in highly profitable companies with long runways of growth backed up by megatrends, comes the higher confidence around their longer-term earnings growth rates, irrespective of macroeconomic conditions! Whilst an economic slowdown may temporarily reduce the growth trajectories of high-quality compounders, their long-term growth rates tend to be more assured. Insync Megatrend Exposures 2022 August
The temptation to time being in or out right now is high, as is the cost. Bank of America found that investor returns in the S&P 500 would stand at just 28% today had they missed just the 10 best days of each 3,650 day decade since the 1930s - a dismal result. It's a whopping 17,715% had they held steady. Market gyrations are not insync with news cycles or with logic. This is why timing is risky. Buffet's metaphor stands... "In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine." Our funds are for long term investors, and this is why it's important to reflect on this. Companies can do well - even now Market sell-downs in periods of volatility often provide the best opportunities to invest for the long term.
There was plenty of bad macroeconomic news over this period to dissuade being invested too. A US debt ceiling crisis in 2011, European debt crisis in 2012, Greek default crisis in 2015, collapse in China' stock market in 2016, Covid-19 crisis in 2020...you get the picture. Home Depot also paid 10% p.a. compounding dividend (they expect to pay a $7.60 dividend in 2022). This means you are receiving well over HALF your original purchase price back in 2009 in dividends from just this year! Patience rewards. We remain confident in the strength and durability of earnings growth in the Insync portfolio companies and see temporary price falls as ideal buying opportunities. Two further examples of highly profitable companies in the portfolio are Lululemon and Ulta Beauty, both benefitting from the Lipstick Effect.
In their recent quarterly earnings updates Lululemon reported a 29% revenue increase and a 30% increase in EPS. Ulta Beauty reported a 17% increase in revenues and a 25% increase in EPS (earnings per share). When investors keep focused on the growing earnings power of quality companies, they find their stock prices grow eventually as well. This is especially true for the investor time periods the fund is designed for. Funds operated by this manager: Insync Global Capital Aware Fund, Insync Global Quality Equity Fund Disclaimer |
11 Oct 2022 - Decarbonise real estate or be left behind
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Decarbonise real estate or be left behind abrdn August 2022 Market sentiment on China has become especially fragile of late amid fears over near-term growth. However, We are in one of the most significant periods of change for real estate. Seismic shifts are taking place as we respond to climate change and decarbonise assets. It is clear the changes will be dramatic and they will be apparent well before some market participants currently assume. The conflict in Ukraine and the resulting higher costs for fossil fuels have sharpened the focus on decarbonisation. At this stage, adopting an agile response and taking steps to prepare for the effects of the transition to net zero are vital. This will allow investors to mitigate the impact on valuations, returns, investment activity, and the future investibility of their assets. The momentum is buildingThere is increasing pressure on asset managers to reduce the emissions from the assets they manage. Extreme global environmental changes combined with pressure from governments, investors, regulators, occupiers and employees are forcing change. With the built environment accounting for around 40% of global carbon emissions, the commercial real estate investment sector is in the spotlight. Real estate has a large part to play in limiting global warming to the 1.5 degrees threshold. While the target of net-zero emissions for buildings is necessary, how to get there is still not clear. Government policies at a global level lag well behind what is required. As a result, the gap has been filled with a proliferation of voluntary standards, such as the Better Building Partnership, the World Resources Institute, and the World Green Building Council. While these are well-intentioned, they are often contradictory. And in the absence of a common definition of what 'net-zero carbon' means, they can cause significant confusion. A clear trend is emerging where real estate assets with a higher sustainability specification can command a premium, while those that don't are vulnerable to a 'brown' discount. More sustainable assets are commanding a premiumA clear trend is emerging where real estate assets with a higher sustainability specification can command a premium, while those that don't are vulnerable to a 'brown' discount. Ramping up sustainability performance standards is certainly increasing obsolescence (no longer fit-for-purpose) in buildings. But measuring rental premiums, lower void periods and higher valuations for more sustainable assets is likely to remain challenging, given there is limited data and evidence on which to base assumptions. Regulatory confusion isn't helpingThe current reliance on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) across Europe illustrates some of the issues with the existing regulatory regime. EPCs can be helpful in providing information about a property's theoretical energy use, but they tell us nothing about the actual energy used in practice. The key European Union (EU) sustainable finance regulations rely heavily on EPCs. But how these concepts are implemented by each member state renders cross-border comparison nearly impossible. At present, the same building will be efficient or inefficient (under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations), or it will be sustainable or unsustainable (under the EU taxonomy classification of sustainable activities), based purely on the country in which the building is located. Estimating the future impact of decarbonisation on assets.What is the expected cost of decarbonising real estate? No one really knows. The heterogeneity of the asset class and the uncertainty associated with the recommended path to net zero make it difficult to quantify. Numerous factors will have a sizeable impact on the cost. For example, the age of the asset, plant and machinery; the complexity of the layout; the geographic location of the asset; or the costs of construction in the country concerned. Furthermore, the decarbonisation or otherwise of the electricity grid in a particular country where there is a high level of green energy (nuclear energy, for example) will reduce the overall decarbonisation costs. The degree of global warming in the country concerned will also affect the decarbonisation start and end points. Countries that are more susceptible to global warming will have a greater need to decarbonise quickly. So how do investors begin to put a cost on decarbonisation? Estimating a decarbonisation cost for the average asset in a particular sector, within a specific country, and taking account of the sustainability of the grid, gives a benchmark starting point. Investors can then collaborate with expert consultants, such as JLL, Verco, and Evora, to analyse assets on a bottom-up basis. This provides the key data that can be used to refine the broad averages. We take a multi-pronged approachThe key challenge at the moment is finding a consistent pathway to net zero. It needs to take account of different sectors, countries, future climate change, and the sustainability of energy sources in each country. The science-based energy emissions guidance from CRREM (Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor) is our starting point. This is then combined with the extensive bottom-up data that we have collected from external analysis of our assets. We then take a view on the most appropriate numbers based on our country or sector views. We expect our guidance to evolve as we build up a more precise database of expected and actual costs. So what does this mean?Given the undeniable impact of global warming, along with the ever-tightening and more onerous sustainability regulations, the real estate industry is under pressure to change. Investors are becoming much more aware of the need to tackle excess emissions in their assets. We are at the early stages of investors pricing in the likely costs associated with 'good' and 'bad' sustainable assets. But given the level of scrutiny in this area of real estate, the pace of change is gathering significant momentum. Some investors will be left with assets that require too much capital investment to be viable. These assets may not attract tenants or they may not generate a cashflow in the future. Indeed, they may even become obsolete, where the only course of action will be to knock them down. We are taking significant steps now, to avoid such extreme measures in the future. Author: Simon Kinnie, Head Of Real Estate Forecasting and |
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Funds operated by this manager: Aberdeen Standard Actively Hedged International Equities Fund, Aberdeen Standard Asian Opportunities Fund, Aberdeen Standard Australian Small Companies Fund, Aberdeen Standard Emerging Opportunities Fund, Aberdeen Standard Ex-20 Australian Equities Fund (Class A), Aberdeen Standard Focused Sustainable Australian Equity Fund, Aberdeen Standard Fully Hedged International Equities Fund, Aberdeen Standard Global Absolute Return Strategies Fund, Aberdeen Standard Global Corporate Bond Fund, Aberdeen Standard International Equity Fund , Aberdeen Standard Life Absolute Return Global Bond Strategies Fund, Aberdeen Standard Multi Asset Real Return Fund, Aberdeen Standard Multi-Asset Income Fund
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10 Oct 2022 - Inflation will test Fed's patience, but RBA has cards up its sleeve
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Inflation will test Fed's patience, but RBA has cards up its sleeve Pendal September 2022 |
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ALONG with many other observers, we expected US inflation to moderate more than it did in August. Headline CPI came in overnight at 0.1% (8.3% annual) and underlying at 0.6% (6.3% annual). A new group of unrelated components (including vehicle repair, dental charges and tobacco) showed fresh signs of inflation, pushing the rate positive for the month. We still expect goods deflation in the months ahead. Oil prices and most other commodities are weak. But US wage growth is spreading inflation wider into services. Services inflation is now the battleground and labour supply lines are normalising far slower than goods. What little patience the US Federal Reserve may have had is running out. Fed funds now seem destined for 4% or higher. As little as six weeks ago the market was expecting terminal rates closer to 3%. RBA may be more patientAs always, Australian bonds will follow the US. But the RBA seems prepared to show a bit more patience. This is due to a number of factors — but the two main ones are wages and our floating rate mortgage market. The NAB business survey showed that rate hikes are yet to have any impact. This is not surprising as the economy is now almost fully open, many have pent-up savings to spend and fixed rates are protecting 40 per cent of mortgage holders. The RBA remain on course for 3% cash rates by year end (either 2.85% or 3.1%). It will likely rely on the fixed rate mortgage cliff and immigration to do the heavy lifting to combat inflation in 2023. Bond markets are caught in the loop of pushing rates up with the Fed but also with one eye on increasing recession risks. Flatter curves seems to be the favoured way of reconciling these two outcomes. Credit and equity markets were hit by the high inflation numbers, but for now look to be range-trading rather than breaking down. The only certainty for now is volatility is here for a while yet. Author: Tim Hext, Portfolio Manager and Head of Government Bond Strategies |
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Funds operated by this manager: Pendal Focus Australian Share Fund, Pendal Global Select Fund - Class R, Pendal Horizon Sustainable Australian Share Fund, Pendal MicroCap Opportunities Fund, Pendal Sustainable Australian Fixed Interest Fund - Class R, Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions Fund - Class R, Regnan Credit Impact Trust Fund |
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This information has been prepared by Pendal Fund Services Limited (PFSL) ABN 13 161 249 332, AFSL No 431426 and is current as at December 8, 2021. PFSL is the responsible entity and issuer of units in the Pendal Multi-Asset Target Return Fund (Fund) ARSN: 623 987 968. A product disclosure statement (PDS) is available for the Fund and can be obtained by calling 1300 346 821 or visiting www.pendalgroup.com. The Target Market Determination (TMD) for the Fund is available at www.pendalgroup.com/ddo. You should obtain and consider the PDS and the TMD before deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of units in the Fund. An investment in the Fund or any of the funds referred to in this web page is subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment of withdrawal proceeds and loss of income and principal invested. This information is for general purposes only, should not be considered as a comprehensive statement on any matter and should not be relied upon as such. It has been prepared without taking into account any recipient's personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, recipients should, before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness having regard to their individual objectives, financial situation and needs. This information is not to be regarded as a securities recommendation. The information may contain material provided by third parties, is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be accurate as at its issue date. While such material is published with necessary permission, and while all reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information is complete and correct, to the maximum extent permitted by law neither PFSL nor any company in the Pendal group accepts any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Performance figures are calculated in accordance with the Financial Services Council (FSC) standards. Performance data (post-fee) assumes reinvestment of distributions and is calculated using exit prices, net of management costs. Performance data (pre-fee) is calculated by adding back management costs to the post-fee performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Any projections are predictive only and should not be relied upon when making an investment decision or recommendation. Whilst we have used every effort to ensure that the assumptions on which the projections are based are reasonable, the projections may be based on incorrect assumptions or may not take into account known or unknown risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from these projections. For more information, please call Customer Relations on 1300 346 821 8am to 6pm (Sydney time) or visit our website www.pendalgroup.com |
7 Oct 2022 - Halgos and three steps for navigating the road ahead
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Halgos and three steps for navigating the road ahead Nikko Asset Management August 2022 The experience of investing in risk assets over the last six months has been a miserable affair for most involved-particularly in some corners of the market where we have seen a collapse in share prices. We question, however, why this might be a surprise for so many investors. The evidence would suggest that many investors have become conditioned by the environment that had prevailed for over a decade, with a smooth and clear road to higher prices for equities and most financial assets. The world's key central banks have had a specific goal of lower yields on financial assets since the great experiment of quantitative easing commenced. We have been in an era that has been less about investing capital and more about deploying capital to the beneficiaries of the great inflation in financial assets. This era even had its own language: SPAC, FAANG, meme, NFT, crypto, FOMO[1], etc. We live in a world where artificial intelligence is developing rapidly and can join the dots within larger data sets much better than humans can, and we will no doubt underestimate the degree of future advances in this area. However, we have just had a good reminder of the power of human thinking, as joining the dots on the wide array of evidence from different sources has been giving us valuable insights for some time. As a team, we are always discussing and debating these observations and the insights they provide as they are instrumental in both directing our research towards the best new ideas and a correct appraisal of our current investments. The valuation of companies has been a key area of focus, particularly when the last COVID-related round on monetary creation pushed valuation disparities within the market to exceptional levels. Exactly a year ago we wrote, "These balloons…will not stay high in the sky…and the only debate will be the speed of descent". In January we wrote, "Make no mistake, there are many aspects of this that have the trappings of a bubble". This is the human algo (or "Halgo[2]" for short) in action and a good reminder to ourselves of the value of staying disciplined and bringing experience to the table. Whether the current outcome is surprising or not, all investors are now faced with a new and ongoing challenge. In our view, policymakers no longer have our back and inflation - rather than the price of risk assets - appears to be their number one priority. The road ahead is not going to be so easy. Three steps for the new road ahead It may be easy to become gloomy after the drawdown of the last few months. But we believe that there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for compounding your future capital from today's levels if you consider the following three steps. 1. Recognise that we have shifted to a different road type, and it is rougher and more variable As investors in individual companies, we are constantly being asked to differentiate between volatility that is just short-term angst and a signal of change. This is our suggested approach: always be open-minded to new information that could undermine a thesis. The thesis, however, is that we are seeing a regime change. More specifically, inflationary trends are now greater than they were in the past given the scale of monetary creation over the last decade. In the shorter term, there will likely be a period of easing pressures as the pending rate-induced recession commences and supply chain pressures ease somewhat. On balance, however, structural energy undersupply, labour market constraints and military expenditures will all contribute to sticky inflation at rates likely to be above the 2-3% ideal for central banks. Risk-free rates will therefore remain at higher levels. Secondly, geopolitics will likely remain problematic as the battles for technology dominance between China and the US, and the struggle for military supremacy in Ukraine are likely to be prolonged. The free flow of capital across borders should no longer be assumed, the cost of borrowing in the world's reserve currency will likely stay high and we need to be prepared for an increasing shift from certain actors, such as China, moving away from the US dollar as the currency of external trade in the years ahead. In short, we believe that growth in the broader economy will be less certain and more cyclical, and as a result, the cost of capital will not return to the low levels we saw in 2020-2021. 2. Realise that this new road may be best travelled with different vehicles Those of a certain vintage (myself included) might remember the cartoon series "Wacky Races", courtesy of Hanna-Barbera. With the adoption of a multitude of new and sometimes esoteric ETFs and other thematic vehicles in recent years, it has often felt as though we have been competing in Wacky Races! The good, albeit challenging, news for investors is that when there is a regime change, as the significant market correction seems to flag, there is a high probability that there will be new leaders in the race ahead. We have done some work on prior periods of significant market corrections and what the probabilities are, with a clear caveat that the number of reference data points is modest in total. As a reminder, the leaders over the last cycle were information technology, consumer discretionary and energy; assuming they will automatically return as market leaders is a brave call based on this work. Our personal intuition is also that new leadership is likely to emerge this time given the scale of surplus of capital that has just been allocated to the winners. 3. Improve your probabilities by sticking to a few enduring principles Gross margins are similarly being challenged by rising labour inflation (and availability), a shift to more local and higher cost supply chains, rising raw material input prices and (particularly for those sectors previously benefitting from COVID-related revenue boosts) negative operating leverage as sales decline. On average, times are getting tougher for businesses, and franchise strength is being tested more fully. Where products and business models are unique, dominant or gaining share, the scope for passing on costs to customers and sustaining volume growth is greater. Ensure capital funding is sustainable It is now patently clear to all that the cost of debt is going up notably, and as is always the case, the availability of debt could become more irregular. The degree of change in debt costs in US dollars is much greater than in other currencies, and given its reserve currency status, it raises the global cost of capital for many businesses. Self-funding growth (high free cash flow) and balance sheets with appropriate and long-duration debt, in our view, will be better placed to keep investing through the pending down cycle. Cash-burning, profitless business models likely won't pass the test. Focus on justifiable valuations We have learned, sometimes through bitter experience, that the penalty for investing at inflated prices and a lack of future cashflows can be quite onerous. Compounding capital from levels that can be politely described as "frothy" is difficult. When the music stops, falls of 80-90% are common for the frothy crowd, and more often than not they stay down as profitability remains a dream rather than reality. Where we find Future Quality winners If you are a more seasoned investor none of the above should be particularly surprising. The next key question will likely be: where are you investing your capital within global equities? Companies on a unique journey of improvement that can attain and sustain high returns on invested capital over the next five years or more have always been the best starting point, in our view. These Future Quality ideas are what excite us and have been the foundation of our alpha delivery for over a decade. For simplicity, though, there are often some common traits for these stock picks and we highlight the following: Energy transition Last quarter we highlighted in greater detail the energy transition theme. We very much retain our optimism that an enduring cycle of rising investment is now upon us as societies need to address the challenge of sustaining the still-necessary fossil fuel production, increasing supply from more trusted regimes, improving energy efficiencies, reducing emissions, and further developing alternative energy sources. The latter is key from a climate perspective, but also energy intensive in its own right, creating a circular requirement for the other drivers. In short, the addressable market will grow and surprise investors, and profitability for many suppliers of the "picks and shovels" of the energy transition is on an improving trend. This is an increasing rarity in the current environment. This quarter we have added Worley, an Australian-based provider of engineering consultancy and design services, and Linde, a leading global industrial gas provider, over the last quarter. Both are expected to be price makers in their respective markets. Enduring growth Given the backdrop of rising rates and pressures on household consumption, we are increasingly cautious about the growth outlook for many consumer-facing companies. We believe that falling propensity to consume (due to greater spending on mortgage and utility costs) and prior COVID-led pulling forward of demand will be difficult and enduring problems to overcome. Sustainable growth that is less impacted by consumer cyclicality is therefore preferred. Our long-standing overweight in the healthcare sector highlights the fact that we see the demand backdrop for better and more cost-effective solutions across ageing societies as being very much enduring in nature. In other sectors, we have also added new holdings with similar attributes, such as O'Reilly Automotive and beverage maker Diageo. The need to repair autos given the significant ageing of the fleet in the US will remain strong, and premium spirits will remain an affordable luxury with long-life inventory less impacted by the current rise in input costs. Other recent additions include leading franchises in areas such as travel, where prior consumption has been constrained significantly by COVID and as a result, we added Amadeus IT, the world's largest provider of travel booking systems, to our portfolios. The final key comment on the area of enduring growth is that we are increasingly concerned about the prospects for digital advertising. Business start-ups and the funding for newer business models have ballooned over 2020-2021, as conducive capital markets have enabled IPOs, SPACs, and a flurry of activity in private equity funding. Many of these have been technology-related firms with limited customers and cashflow, and they have been focused on finding new customers. This startup funding in 2021 is estimated at USD 650 billion in the US (Source: Crunchbase), roughly double the level of prior years. We assume that about 40% of this will end up in customer acquisition/digital marketing with the majority going to key players such as Meta and Google. This level of spending may now normalise to more sustainable levels as we see new funding dry up and many existing customers burn through cash reserves. This source of advertising spend will likely see a large drawdown, in turn prompting investors to reappraise their growth assumptions for the leading digital media players. Notable downgrades are not a key attribute for enduring growth and we have no exposure in this area. Author: Will Low, Head of Global Equities Funds operated by this manager: Nikko AM ARK Global Disruptive Innovation Fund, Nikko AM Global Share Fund, Nikko AM New Asia Fund, 1 SPAC (special purpose acquisition company), FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google), 2 Halgo (Human Algorithm) Disclaimer This material has been prepared by Nikko Asset Management Europe Ltd (NAM Europe) which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA. This material is issued in Australia by Yara Capital Management Limited (formerly Nikko AM Limited) ABN 99 003 376 252, AFSL 237563. To the extent that any statement in this material constitutes general advice under Australian law, the advice is provided by Yarra Capital Management Limited. NAM Europe does not hold an AFS Licence. Effective 12 April 2021, Yarra Capital Management Limited became part of the Yarra Capital Management Group. The information contained in this material is of a general nature only and does not constitute personal advice, nor does it constitute an offer of any financial product. It is for the use of researchers, licensed financial advisers and their authorised representatives, and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any individual. For this reason, you should, before acting on this material, consider the appropriateness of the material, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. The information in this material has been prepared from what is considered to be reliable information, but the accuracy and integrity of the information is not guaranteed. Figures, charts, opinions and other data, including statistics, in this material are current as at the date of publication, unless stated otherwise. The graphs and figures contained in this material include either past or backdated data and make no promise of future investment returns. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance. Any economic or market forecasts are not guaranteed. Any references to particular securities or sectors are for illustrative purposes only and are as at the date of publication of this material. This is not a recommendation in relation to any named securities or sectors and no warranty or guarantee is provided. Portfolio holdings may not be representative of current or future investments. The securities discussed may not represent all of the portfolio's holdings and may represent only a small percentage of the strategy's portfolio holdings. Future portfolio holdings may not be profitable. Any mention of an investment decision is intended only to illustrate our investment approach or strategy and is not indicative of the performance of our strategy as a whole. Any such illustration is not necessarily representative of other investment decisions. Portfolio holdings may change by the time you receive this. Any reference to a specific company or security does not constitute a recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or directly invest in the company or its securities. The information set out has been prepared in good faith and while Yarra Capital Management Limited and its related bodies corporate (together, the "Yarra Capital Management Group") reasonably believe the information and opinions to be current, accurate, or reasonably held at the time of publication, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Yarra Capital Management Group: (a) makes no warranty as to the content's accuracy or reliability; and (b) accepts no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage arising from any errors, omissions, or information that is not up to date. Yarra Capital Management. Copyright 2022. |
6 Oct 2022 - Why on earth would Experiences thrive with all the gloom around today?
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Why on earth would Experiences thrive with all the gloom around today? Insync Fund Managers September 2022 Put simply-Pent-up demand. Pre-Covid expenditure on experiences had been consistently growing ahead of GDP and its sub-segment, travel, was one of the fastest growing. Most megatrends within Insync's portfolio tend to have low sensitivity to economic cycles but the one sub-segment that suffered temporarily was travel. The extent of the fall in travel was unprecedented. Worldwide a staggering 1 billion fewer international arrivals in 2020 than in 2019. This compares with the 4% decline recorded during the 2009 global economic crisis (GFC).
There has been a lack of visibility on how leisure travel was going to emerge after governments implemented onerous travel restrictions. This was compounded by the shift to working from home with online meetings reducing the need for face-to-face meetings. What we do know is that humans desire to travel is hardwired into all of our DNAs. As travel restrictions have started to ease consumers appear to be making up for lost time. Airlines in the US last month reported domestic flight bookings surpassing pre-pandemic levels! US travellers spent $6.6 billion on flights in February, 6% higher than February 2019. Airlines for America, a leading US industry advocacy group noted that travellers have been eager to book tickets as COVID restrictions lifted. This provides a good indicator for the rest of the world. Our families and friends are all planning new adventures and reunions too. Interestingly, rising jet fuel prices, which have put upward pressure on ticket prices, has so far not deterred travellers who are willing to spend more. Emirates recently added a fuel surcharge and saw booking rise! A number of surveys are painting similar stories. TripAdvisor, found that 45% of Americans are planning to travel this March and April, including 68% of Gen Z travellers. This number will climb higher as the summer season rapidly approaches, as 68% of all American adults will vacation this summer (The Vacationer). No wonder hotels around the United States are nearing or have already surpassed pre-pandemic occupancy. Just try finding a decent, moderately priced hotel room in Sydney, as two of our team have recently experienced. The megatrend of Experiences is accelerating. Finding the right businesses benefitting from the trend is equally important for the consistent earnings growth we seek. It's why Cruise lines, airlines and hotels, whilst obvious picks, don't meet the quality criteria we insist upon.
Recently we reinvested into Booking Holdings after the over-blown pull back in its share price and the Covid event subsiding. It generates prodigious amounts of cash because of their scale and superior margins versus its competitors. As well as delivering a commanding competitive position they also help it in protecting against inflation. Bookings recently overtook Marriott, the largest hotel group, in gross volume booked in 2012, and today stands 70% bigger. Companies with superior business models and balance sheets tend to come through a crisis strengthening their competitive position. Booking Holdings is a prime example. The structural reduction in business travel has made hotels reliant upon OTAs once again to fill-up their rooms. This has been evidenced by recent data showing strong market share gains, in excess of pre-COVID levels. Second is the shutdown of Google's "Book on Google" product, removing the biggest perennial risk to the OTA investment case. The fact that the most powerful online search engine is shutting down this service is testament to the powerful position that Booking Holdings occupy.
Long term, travel looks set to continue to grow ahead of GDP as populations age, emerging market middle classes expand, and discretionary spend shifts more from "things" to "experiences.". Booking Holdings will be a major beneficiary compounding earnings for many years with its share price likely to follow the consistent growth in earnings. Funds operated by this manager: Insync Global Capital Aware Fund, Insync Global Quality Equity Fund Disclaimer |
