Investors' Chronicle

Chris Akers unpacks the latest from equipment rental company Ashtead (AHT). The figures slightly underwhelmed the market, but the biggest factor affecting the business was the announcement that it’s moving its listing to the US.

Onto our latest cover feature on behavioural psychology and investing. Alex Newman lays out his intention with the piece, as well as the importance of recognising what impact our biases have on our investment decisions.

It’s then on to the plastics business Victrex (VCT) which saw its shares shoot up recently. Julian Hofmann looks at the causes of this and Alex returns to touch on the bid for Aim-traded fintech firm Equals (EQLS).

Timestamps

01:17 Ashtead

09:05 Developmental psychology

19:56  Victrex

27:21 Equals

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Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

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As stock pickers, the managers of The Brunner Investment Trust are looking for what they believe are great companies which can grow and deliver returns to shareholders. Whilst this may sound obvious, just what exactly are the common factors in the DNA of a “great” company? Joe Lynam quizzes portfolio manager Julian Bishop on how he and his team go about assessing companies.

For more in-depth discussions and insights, visit our website for additional podcast episodes, articles and videos: https://www.brunner.co.uk/en-gb/videos-podcasts-and-reading 

This content was paid for and produced by The Brunner Investment Trust

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex and Lord Lee sit down with the CEO of one of the holdings in Lord Lee’s portfolio: James Gundy of the shipping service company, Braemar (BMS).

James has been group CEO since 2021 and he unpacks the ins and outs of running a shipbroker on London’s main market, how it compares to its competitors and its navigation of some complicated geopolitical waters.

As always, the episode closes with an update on Lord Lee’s portfolio changes, including why he’s buying a new real estate investment trust and why he’s focusing on the changes to capital gains tax.

Timestamps

00:59 What the company does

04:23 Lead indicators

07:24 Compared to Clarksons 

08:57 How Lord Lee got involved

12:51 Pricing intangibles

16:43 Why shipbroking is dominated by UK-based companies

18:20 Why Lord Lee thought it was a good investment

19:55 Is volatility good for business?

20:59 The sale to Russian oil producer Lukoil

27:16 Is Braemar under investigation? 

29:39 Financials

31:58 Dividends

35:10 Lord Lee’s portfolio 

38:00 Takeovers 

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £1

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin with airlines Jet2 (JET2) and EasyJet (EZJ) who recently released results. Michael Fahy explores the current demand for travel and package holidays, and the reputational issues affecting share valuations. 

The future of the North Sea is murky but the industry now has clarity on its taxes. Our commodities expert, Alex Hamer, lays out the opportunities, challenges and changing operating costs in the sector.

AJ Bell (AJB) recently changed how its users can vote at AGMs for the companies they own – offering a digital option, in the same way Interactive Investors users have been able to since 2021. Holly McKechnie unpacks why this is an important move and the impact it may have.

Timestamps

1:23 Airline stocks

12:34 The North Sea

27:04 Shareholder democracy

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only.

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the IC Interviews, Val Cipriani, personal finance editor, sits down with Stefan Gries of BlackRock Greater Europe Trust. The fund is known for focusing on businesses with dependable profits and finds success even though it takes less risk than the average investor.

Hear Gries’s take on Dutch semiconductor stock ASML (AMS), and how the industry will fare in light of Donald Trump’s win. The duo also cover the prospects of the Chinese and UK markets, the fund’s stock-picking methods which European sectors are ripe for investor attention.

Timestamps 

0:49 What the fund does

2:34 Changes to the strategy

6:02 Outlook on the market   

8:53 US election result 

11:06 Bullish versus Bearish

13:46 Stockpicking

17:13 Novo Nordisk 

21:46 ASML 

25:25 Semiconductors in the wake of Trump’s win

32:57 China and post-Covid recovery 

35:55 UK market

38:19 Granola stocks

40:39 Wider European stocks 

42:42 Promising sectors 

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only.

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin with software company Sage (SGE). Shares are up and the team unpacks the drivers of this rise and explores whether investors should be concerned about competition in the industry. 

Illinois Tool Works (US:ITW) next. It’s larger than all but five stocks included in the FTSE 100 but remains relatively unknown on this side of the pond. Our team explore what the company does and the metrics that lead it to feature on our annual US quality screen.

Last up, it’s property company Grainger (GRI). Demand has been strong this year but its share price has been relatively flat. We look at why this is the case and how the valuation appears.

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only.

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British-based luxury fashion brand Burberry (BRBY) has had a hard time of late. Our team delve into what’s gone wrong over and question whether the low valuation is attractive enough for investors to take a gamble.

It’s then onto our Investment Trust Special. We explore what trusts are most vulnerable to consolidation and some that could be fruitful in the changing macroeconomic environment.

Last up, it’s specialist British chemical company Croda (CRDA). The latest update shows signs of life but two profit warnings over the past 18 months could hold back its growth. Julian Hofmann looks into the details. 

Timestamps 

1:31 Burberry 

15:38 Investment trusts

27:48 Croda 

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £1

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lord Lee and Alex reunite just a day after the US election result and a week on from the Autumn Budget. In the episode, the pair unpack how the latter will affect UK private investors and the economy at large, and Lord Lee gives his opinion on the effectiveness of the changes announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Also, listen to find out the changes to Lord Lee’s portfolio and his take on Trump’s presidential win. 

Timestamps 

1:18 Why the Budget is pleasing for private investors

3:42 Lord Lee’s view of Labour’s tone 

7:19 Nichols and FW Thorpe sales

10:03 Will Budget changes mean a change in tactic?

11:14 Inheritance tax 

13:05 Niche markets

15:40 Impact on family businesses property relief and farms

18:32 What should Labour aim for 

21:25 How Lord Lee's portfolio has been recently 

25:14 Trump’s reelection

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £1

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Auto Trader’s (AUTO) recent results were not well received. A slowdown in vehicle production and its position within a tight market is squeezing growth prospects. Our experts dive into what it means for investors. 

It’s then on to the impact of the Budget. The panel unpacks what sectors will be most affected by the changes, and the potential cost-saving measures companies can take to mitigate rising NI contributions.

Last up, bond yields. Both the Budget and the US election will alter the fiscal outlook and our team look at who the winners and losers will be. 

Dan Jones is joined by Mark Robinson, Alex Newman, Julian Hofmann and Hermione Taylor.

Editing by Madi Apthorpe

Timestamps

1:23 Auto Trader

13:25 The Budget

21:03 Bonds

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only.

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Returning a second time in the IC Interviews hot seat, Terry Smith is one of the biggest names in the investing world. Having set up the eponymous Fundsmith in 2010, he now manages more than £22bn of British savers’ money and has had his fair share of celebration and criticism.

Funds editor Dave Baxter and Smith unpack everything from Magnificent Seven stocks and the effect of weight-loss drugs on stock markets, to consumer staples and the reason Smith doesn’t want to own market favourite, Nvidia.

Also, find out what quality Smith looks for in companies and fund managers, plus why the fund’s allocation to UK stocks is so minimal.

Timestamps

00:38 Magnificent Seven stocks

3:52 Nvidia 

6:41 AI

08:57 Consumer staples and weight-loss drugs

12:06 Novo Nordisk

17:36 What he looks for in companies 

20:23 Nike 

22:07 Asset allocation and share buybacks

24:48 UK companies and Asia 

29:19 Financials 

30:27 Judging when there’s a crisis versus a mispricing 

35:09 Criticisms of the buy and sell process

39:44 Atlas Copco 

41:44 Next and Autotrader

Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial 

*After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely satisfied, you can cancel up to 5 business days before your renewal date and only pay the £12 already debited. This offer is for UK subscribers only.

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.