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| Fund Overview | The investment team looks for industrial businesses that are simple to understand; they generally avoid large caps, pure mining, biotech and start-ups. They also look for: - Access to management; - Businesses with a competitive edge; - Profitable companies with good margins, organic growth prospects, strong market position and a track record of healthy dividend growth; - Sectors with structural advantage and barriers to entry; - 15% p.a. pre-tax compound return on each holding; and - A history of stable and predictable cash flows that DS Capital can understand and value. |
| Manager Comments | The DS Capital Growth Fund rose +5.76% in April, outperforming the ASX200 Accumulation Index by +3.39% and taking annualised performance since inception in December 2012 to +15.13% versus the Index's +10.10%. This return has been achieved with an annualised volatility of 7.33% versus the Index's 11.13%. The Fund's Sharpe and Sortino ratios, 1.71 and 3.51 respectively, by contrast with the Index's Sharpe ratio of 0.75 and Sortino ratio of 1.09, highlight the Fund's capacity to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns whilst avoiding the market's downside volatility. Regarding the activity of a few of the Fund's holdings over the month:
DS Capital's view is that with the uncertainty of the Australian Federal Election behind us investors will focus on global and domestic economic conditions and related interest rates. They believe softer economic growth will maintain pressure on interest rates that have fallen since October 2018, deferring a return to higher rates that seemed likely just six months ago. While lower interest rates are theoretically favourable for equity markets, they add, weaker economic conditions can make it more difficult for businesses to grow earnings. They noted this was evident in the recent reporting season which, together with a recent lift in share prices, gives DS Capital cause for caution. They expect continuing volatility from the US-China trade tensions. Post reporting season company meetings, DS Capital have compiled a shopping list of businesses that they would like to own or add to their current holdings. They are seeing new opportunities and have a current cash holding of 20%. They noted they will take these opportunities sparingly. |
| More Information |
