How Forager's Johnson topped the fundie tables by embracing passive
Steve Johnson's Forager Funds Management has returned to the top of Mercer's investment survey beating his fund manager rivals over one year by embracing rather than fighting the huge amount of passive money flowing on to the ASX.
Forager's $172 million Australian Shares Fund returned 21.7 per cent before fees in the 12 months to March 31, smashing the S&P/ASX 300 Index's 2.6 per cent return and trouncing 123 other equity strategies by a huge margin – the second-ranked Chester Opportunities Fund rose 13 per cent.
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Herald Sun
14 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Stock Tips: Never mind the alpha, what's the Sigma play this week?
It's no easy gig analysing share prices and company performance but somebody's got to do it. Every week two experts from our Share Tips columnist pool give us their recommendations. Sean Conlan – Leyland Private Asset Management BUY Sigma Healthcare (ASX:SIG) We believe SIG will grow into its current PE multiple by refurbishing existing Chemist Warehouse stores, opening 20 new stores per annum across Australia and by exporting the brand offshore. Judo Capital Holdings (ASX:JDO) Improved funding costs give us more comfort on the near-term margin outlook. With forecast a~34% earnings CAGR over the next three years, and trading at only 12x FY26 P/E we think the valuation is attractive. HOLD Treasury Wine Estates (ASX:TWE) TWE has trimmed guidance for FY25 earnings growth, citing lower-than-expected wine sales in the US where economic uncertainty is hurting consumer demand. Austal (ASX:ASB) We remain positive on the long-term outlook for ASB, considering the macro tailwinds and attractive growth profile, however, we are conscious of its current valuation. SELL Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) While BOQ's simplification strategy and pivot towards business is bearing fruit, we think it will continue to struggle to make returns above the cost of capital over the medium term. Lovisa Holdings (ASX:LOV) We are concerned about the quality of stores recently opened and think that higher-than-normal rates of discounting may be driving strong LFL sales. Chris Watt – Bell Potter Securities BUY CAR Group (CAR) Resilient RV sales, solid international operations and strong earnings momentum support continued growth. The company continues to benefit from a scalable global expansion strategy that allows it to replicate its model across international markets. Treasury Wine Estates (ASX:TWE) While the US premium wine market is weak, core luxury brands remain strong. DAOU Vineyards synergies and broader international opportunities provide upside despite recent downgrades. HOLD Technology One (ASX:TNE) A strong first-half result confirms the business is executing well, with growing recurring revenue and cash flow. However, recent share price gains limit short-term upside. James Hardie (ASX:JHX) Strategy execution in US new construction is on track, particularly in the southern states. That said, macro softness and affordability challenges persist. SELL IDP Education (ASX:IEL) Deteriorating student volumes and shifting global immigration policy have led to significant earnings downgrades. Visibility remains poor, and risks are elevated. Cettire (ASX:CTT) Weak margins, US tariff headwinds, and a soft cash position point to a challenging outlook. The path to profitability appears longer and riskier. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the interviews in this article are solely those of the interviewee and do not represent the views of Stockhead. Stockhead does not provide, endorse or otherwise assume responsibility for any financial advice contained in this article. Originally published as Stock Tips: Never mind the alpha, what's the Sigma play this week?
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
US and China set for new trade talks in London
Three of US President Donald Trump's top aides are set to meet with their Chinese counterparts in London for talks aimed at resolving a trade dispute between the governments of the world's two largest economies that has kept global markets on edge. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the United States in the talks on Monday, Trump announced in a post on his Truth Social platform. China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that Vice Premier He Lifeng will be in the United Kingdom between Sunday and Friday, adding that the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism would be held during this visit. "The meeting should go very well," Trump wrote. The first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism will be held with the United States during He's visit, Chinese authorities said. He led the Chinese side in the first round of trade talks that took place in Switzerland in May. Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in a rare leader-to-leader call amid weeks of brewing trade tensions and a dispute over critical minerals. Trump and Xi agreed to visit one another and asked their staffs to hold talks in the meantime. Both countries are under pressure to relieve tensions, with the global economy under pressure over Chinese control over the rare earth mineral exports of which it is the dominant producer and investors more broadly anxious about Trump's wider effort to impose tariffs on goods from most US trading partners. China, meanwhile, has seen its own supply of key US imports like chip-design software and nuclear plant parts curtailed. The countries struck a 90-day deal on May 12 in Switzerland to roll back some of the triple-digit, tit-for-tat tariffs they had placed on each other since Trump returned to the presidency in January. That preliminary deal sparked a global relief rally in stock markets, and US indexes that had been in or near bear market levels have recouped the lion's share of their losses. The S&P 500 stock index, which at its lowest point in early April was down nearly 18 per cent after Trump unveiled his sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs on goods from across the globe, is now only about 2 per cent below its record high from mid-February. The final third of that rally followed the US-China truce struck in Geneva. Still, that temporary deal did not address broader concerns that strain the bilateral relationship, from the illicit fentanyl trade to the status of democratically governed Taiwan and US complaints about China's state-dominated export-driven economic model. Three of US President Donald Trump's top aides are set to meet with their Chinese counterparts in London for talks aimed at resolving a trade dispute between the governments of the world's two largest economies that has kept global markets on edge. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the United States in the talks on Monday, Trump announced in a post on his Truth Social platform. China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that Vice Premier He Lifeng will be in the United Kingdom between Sunday and Friday, adding that the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism would be held during this visit. "The meeting should go very well," Trump wrote. The first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism will be held with the United States during He's visit, Chinese authorities said. He led the Chinese side in the first round of trade talks that took place in Switzerland in May. Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in a rare leader-to-leader call amid weeks of brewing trade tensions and a dispute over critical minerals. Trump and Xi agreed to visit one another and asked their staffs to hold talks in the meantime. Both countries are under pressure to relieve tensions, with the global economy under pressure over Chinese control over the rare earth mineral exports of which it is the dominant producer and investors more broadly anxious about Trump's wider effort to impose tariffs on goods from most US trading partners. China, meanwhile, has seen its own supply of key US imports like chip-design software and nuclear plant parts curtailed. The countries struck a 90-day deal on May 12 in Switzerland to roll back some of the triple-digit, tit-for-tat tariffs they had placed on each other since Trump returned to the presidency in January. That preliminary deal sparked a global relief rally in stock markets, and US indexes that had been in or near bear market levels have recouped the lion's share of their losses. The S&P 500 stock index, which at its lowest point in early April was down nearly 18 per cent after Trump unveiled his sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs on goods from across the globe, is now only about 2 per cent below its record high from mid-February. The final third of that rally followed the US-China truce struck in Geneva. Still, that temporary deal did not address broader concerns that strain the bilateral relationship, from the illicit fentanyl trade to the status of democratically governed Taiwan and US complaints about China's state-dominated export-driven economic model. Three of US President Donald Trump's top aides are set to meet with their Chinese counterparts in London for talks aimed at resolving a trade dispute between the governments of the world's two largest economies that has kept global markets on edge. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the United States in the talks on Monday, Trump announced in a post on his Truth Social platform. China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that Vice Premier He Lifeng will be in the United Kingdom between Sunday and Friday, adding that the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism would be held during this visit. "The meeting should go very well," Trump wrote. The first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism will be held with the United States during He's visit, Chinese authorities said. He led the Chinese side in the first round of trade talks that took place in Switzerland in May. Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in a rare leader-to-leader call amid weeks of brewing trade tensions and a dispute over critical minerals. Trump and Xi agreed to visit one another and asked their staffs to hold talks in the meantime. Both countries are under pressure to relieve tensions, with the global economy under pressure over Chinese control over the rare earth mineral exports of which it is the dominant producer and investors more broadly anxious about Trump's wider effort to impose tariffs on goods from most US trading partners. China, meanwhile, has seen its own supply of key US imports like chip-design software and nuclear plant parts curtailed. The countries struck a 90-day deal on May 12 in Switzerland to roll back some of the triple-digit, tit-for-tat tariffs they had placed on each other since Trump returned to the presidency in January. That preliminary deal sparked a global relief rally in stock markets, and US indexes that had been in or near bear market levels have recouped the lion's share of their losses. The S&P 500 stock index, which at its lowest point in early April was down nearly 18 per cent after Trump unveiled his sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs on goods from across the globe, is now only about 2 per cent below its record high from mid-February. The final third of that rally followed the US-China truce struck in Geneva. Still, that temporary deal did not address broader concerns that strain the bilateral relationship, from the illicit fentanyl trade to the status of democratically governed Taiwan and US complaints about China's state-dominated export-driven economic model. Three of US President Donald Trump's top aides are set to meet with their Chinese counterparts in London for talks aimed at resolving a trade dispute between the governments of the world's two largest economies that has kept global markets on edge. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the United States in the talks on Monday, Trump announced in a post on his Truth Social platform. China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that Vice Premier He Lifeng will be in the United Kingdom between Sunday and Friday, adding that the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism would be held during this visit. "The meeting should go very well," Trump wrote. The first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism will be held with the United States during He's visit, Chinese authorities said. He led the Chinese side in the first round of trade talks that took place in Switzerland in May. Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in a rare leader-to-leader call amid weeks of brewing trade tensions and a dispute over critical minerals. Trump and Xi agreed to visit one another and asked their staffs to hold talks in the meantime. Both countries are under pressure to relieve tensions, with the global economy under pressure over Chinese control over the rare earth mineral exports of which it is the dominant producer and investors more broadly anxious about Trump's wider effort to impose tariffs on goods from most US trading partners. China, meanwhile, has seen its own supply of key US imports like chip-design software and nuclear plant parts curtailed. The countries struck a 90-day deal on May 12 in Switzerland to roll back some of the triple-digit, tit-for-tat tariffs they had placed on each other since Trump returned to the presidency in January. That preliminary deal sparked a global relief rally in stock markets, and US indexes that had been in or near bear market levels have recouped the lion's share of their losses. The S&P 500 stock index, which at its lowest point in early April was down nearly 18 per cent after Trump unveiled his sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs on goods from across the globe, is now only about 2 per cent below its record high from mid-February. The final third of that rally followed the US-China truce struck in Geneva. Still, that temporary deal did not address broader concerns that strain the bilateral relationship, from the illicit fentanyl trade to the status of democratically governed Taiwan and US complaints about China's state-dominated export-driven economic model.
News.com.au
17 hours ago
- News.com.au
Stock Tips: Never mind the alpha, what's the Sigma play this week?
It's no easy gig analysing share prices and company performance but somebody's got to do it. Every week two experts from our Share Tips columnist pool give us their recommendations. Sean Conlan – Leyland Private Asset Management BUY Sigma Healthcare (ASX:SIG) We believe SIG will grow into its current PE multiple by refurbishing existing Chemist Warehouse stores, opening 20 new stores per annum across Australia and by exporting the brand offshore. Judo Capital Holdings (ASX:JDO) Improved funding costs give us more comfort on the near-term margin outlook. With forecast a~34% earnings CAGR over the next three years, and trading at only 12x FY26 P/E we think the valuation is attractive. HOLD Treasury Wine Estates (ASX:TWE) TWE has trimmed guidance for FY25 earnings growth, citing lower-than-expected wine sales in the US where economic uncertainty is hurting consumer demand. Austal (ASX:ASB) We remain positive on the long-term outlook for ASB, considering the macro tailwinds and attractive growth profile, however, we are conscious of its current valuation. SELL Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) While BOQ's simplification strategy and pivot towards business is bearing fruit, we think it will continue to struggle to make returns above the cost of capital over the medium term. Lovisa Holdings (ASX:LOV) We are concerned about the quality of stores recently opened and think that higher-than-normal rates of discounting may be driving strong LFL sales. Chris Watt – Bell Potter Securities BUY CAR Group (CAR) Resilient RV sales, solid international operations and strong earnings momentum support continued growth. The company continues to benefit from a scalable global expansion strategy that allows it to replicate its model across international markets. Treasury Wine Estates (ASX:TWE) While the US premium wine market is weak, core luxury brands remain strong. DAOU Vineyards synergies and broader international opportunities provide upside despite recent downgrades. HOLD Technology One (ASX:TNE) A strong first-half result confirms the business is executing well, with growing recurring revenue and cash flow. However, recent share price gains limit short-term upside. James Hardie (ASX:JHX) Strategy execution in US new construction is on track, particularly in the southern states. That said, macro softness and affordability challenges persist. SELL IDP Education (ASX:IEL) Deteriorating student volumes and shifting global immigration policy have led to significant earnings downgrades. Visibility remains poor, and risks are elevated. Cettire (ASX:CTT) Weak margins, US tariff headwinds, and a soft cash position point to a challenging outlook. The path to profitability appears longer and riskier.
