While the top end of town tends to steal the spotlight, real innovation often happens in the small and mid-cap space. From nimble fintech redefining how we bank to next-gen healthcare firms disrupting traditional delivery models to tech-savvy logistics players streamlining operations, there’s a new wave of challengers taking on the incumbents.

These companies may not yet be household names but many are leveraging technology, unique business models, or sharp customer focus to punch well above their weight. And in a market where growth is increasingly hard to come by, they offer investors a compelling, if sometimes risky, alternative.

So, how do you sort the genuine disruptors from the hype machines? Which companies have the vision, execution, and balance sheets to go the distance, and which are more likely to fizzle out?

Joining Livewire's Chris Conway to break it all down are Emanuel Datt from Datt Capital and Michael Steele from Yarra Capital. Together, they put three emerging challengers under the microscope.

For good measure, they also name their favourite disruptor they are backing right now. 

It’s easy to forget that many of today’s ASX blue chips – household names like CSL, REA Group and WiseTech – started life as small-cap stocks. While they may have flown under the radar at the time, patient investors who could spot their potential early on have been handsomely rewarded.

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of small caps, where volatility runs high, but the rewards can be even higher.

More specifically, we’re exploring how to separate the true long-term compounders from the companies fueled by hype, rather than fundamentals. Which business models are built to last? Which leaders have the vision and execution to deliver real growth? And what signs suggest a small company could one day play in the big leagues?

To help us tackle these questions, Livewire's Chris Conway was joined by two seasoned investors who know the small-cap landscape inside and out: Emanuel Datt from Datt Capital and Michael Steele from Yarra Capital Management.

For good measure, they each share an ASX name they are backing to become the next big thing.

Please note this episode was filmed on 7 May 2025.

Equity investors, quite rightly, are looking beyond large caps for opportunity. There's only so much Commonwealth Bank and Magnificent 7 you can have in a portfolio before things start to look top-heavy. 

But moving down the market cap spectrum does not have to equal higher risk - not if you know where to look. 

Whilst small-cap names are often under-researched and overlooked, this can create opportunities for outsized returns. The key is to have a process for unearthing the mispriced or underappreciated gems. 

So, in this episode, Datt Capital’s Emanuel Datt and Yarra Capital’s Michael Steele share what they are looking for when mining the small-cap space, before putting their method to the test by analysing three small-cap names. 

For good measure, they each share a diamond in the rough small cap that they are backing right now. 

Please note this episode was filmed on 7 May 2025.

With Livewire’s inaugural Growth Series in full swing, special guest host - CommSec's Tom Piotrowski - is back in the chair for another round of Buy, Hold, Sell.

This time he's asking the big questions, including what the key risks are for ASX growth companies today, and how professionals manage downside when the inevitable arrives. 

Answering those questions are Ellerston’s James Barker and Ausbil’s Andrew Peros. Tom also quizzes them on past growth investments that exceeded expectations, and which early-stage indicators they pay most attention to. 

And that's all before we get to the traditional Buy Hold Sell fare, running the ruler over five overlooked growth stocks. Are they misunderstood, or has the market ditched them for a reason?

If you love growth investing, don't miss this bumper episode. , investors piled into early-stage lithium hopefuls.

With Livewire’s inaugural Growth Series kicking off next week, we’re bringing you a special series of Buy Hold Sell focused on growth stocks.

Against the backdrop of an incredibly volatile macro picture, punctuated by Trump’s flip-flop on tariffs, we explore how growth investing is being reshaped in real time.

Known for punching above our weight on many fronts, we also uncover the sectors and industries where Australia has a competitive edge.

That’s all before we deliver what Buy Hold Sell is best known for, running the ruler over three stocks that are on the move as well as two growth ideas our experts reckon the market is overlooking.

To help navigate this bumper episode, special guest host Tom Piotrowski from Commsec is joined by Ellerston’s James Barker and Ausbil’s Andrew Peros.

Don’t miss the insights as we set the scene for a journey through growth investing over the next couple of weeks. 

This episode was filmed 21 May, 2025

There are myriad benefits for companies with powerful earnings potential.

So, which ASX companies have such earnings potential, and are they currently priced correctly?

To answer those questions, Livewire's Anna Dadic is joined by Will Granger from Airlie Funds Management and Marc Whittaker from IML.

In this episode, they analyse three ASX companies exhibiting strong earnings that are set to grow in the future. For good measure, they each outline the bull case on one company they believe has significant earnings upside. 

Please note this episode was filmed on 7 May 2025.

When you're looking to buy something, one of the first things you ask is: what's the quality like? 

No one wants something that’ll fall apart or blow up in their face. One of the big bugbears is reliability - most people want something that’s built to last when they’re putting their money into it.

Same goes for stocks. The word quality gets bandied around a lot, and while there’s a broadly accepted definition, it can mean different things to different people. 

Different strokes for different folks.

To unpack what it means for those hunting in the small and mid-cap space, Livewire's Anna Dadic is joined by Will Granger from Airlie Funds Management and Marc Whittaker from IML.

In this episode, they will discuss why quality becomes so significant in market turbulence and share their current favourite high-quality small and mid-cap stock names. 

Please note this episode was filmed on 7 May 2025.

When markets take a dive like they did recently, the use of the word "quality" increases dramatically. 

Suddenly, everyone is hunting quality stocks that can withstand whatever is being thrown at them by the economy and by the market. 

But what exactly is quality? Well, it has many faces, but companies with strong financial metrics, like high return on equity and strong competitive advantages, are high on the list.  

So, which ASX companies exhibit these traits and how do the pros rate them? 

To answer those questions, Livewire's Anna Dadic was joined by Will Granger from Airlie Funds Management and Marc Whittaker from IML.

In this episode they analyse five ASX names that fit the bill and each outline the bull case on one company they believe is set to thrive. 

Please note this episode was filmed on 7 May 2025.

The RBA meets next month, with the decision due on 20 May. Regardless of what happens with the election and despite this week's slightly hotter-than-expected inflation print, a rate cut is "locked in" according to Westpac. Many in the market agree. 

And whilst some believe it is the last cut we could get for a while, the market is pricing in up to three more cuts for the rest of the year. 

Should these cuts materialise, there is a cohort of capital-intensive and consumer-facing businesses that could benefit from lower debt costs and increased disposable income. Of course, this outlook needs to be balanced against the reason for the cuts in the first place - a slowing economy. 

To help us understand where that balance lies, guest host Matthew Kidman of Centennial Asset Management was joined by Matthew Haupt from Wilson Asset Management and Tim Johnston from Tyndall Asset Management. 

Together, they run the ruler over no less than five ASX companies that could benefit from lower rates. For good measure, they share a name that they believe will be a winner in a lower rate environment.

Please note this episode was filmed on 23 April 2025.

With inflation finally heading in the right direction and Trump’s trade war throwing global markets a curveball, investors are laser-focused on central banks, and the RBA is firmly in the spotlight. 

A second rate cut is widely expected in May, with markets pricing in a 98% chance. So, how are the pros positioning their portfolios in a falling rate environment?

To unpack this and more, Matthew Haupt from Wilson Asset Management and Tim Johnston from Tyndall Asset Management sat down with special guest host, Matthew Kidman from Centennial Asset Management. 

In the episode, they dig into how lower interest rates influence portfolio construction, which sectors stand to benefit, and how professionals assess the impact on capital-intensive or heavily indebted companies. 

They also explore the growing importance of dividends and yield in a low-rate environment, and, of course, share one rate-sensitive stock they believe the market is currently mispricing.

If you’re looking to sharpen your strategy in a shifting rate environment, this episode is not to be missed.