Investors Chronicle

This week’s episode, like this week’s cover feature special, highlights the first part of our annual dive into the top 100 Aim companies. Having had a nightmarish 2022, companies traded on the alternative market don’t seem to have had an easier time in 2023 as the index underperformed the FTSE All-Share and the FTSE Small Cap Index. Our journalists have analysed the top 100 Aim companies and, in this episode, you can hear a handful of the team discuss some cherrypicked businesses. These firms include investment manager Tatton Asset Management, specialist franchiser Franchise Brands, insolvency expert FRP Advisory and antibody producer Bioventix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julian Hofmann kicks off today's conversation with a discussion of Britain’s beloved pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW). Results showed that food sales are now a bigger driver, so does that show a change of strategy for the business? And is there still value there?It’s then on to our cover story this week, a topic that many listeners will be thinking about; how to ensure they’re saving enough for retirement. Alex Newman joins the conversation to explain the thought process behind the piece and shares questions investors should ask themselves when planning for the future.Use our Pension Calculator to track your progress towards retirement here.Last up is newly listed German shoe company Birkenstock (US:BIRK). The popularity of the sandal-maker’s footwear has boomed recently and pairs can be spotted everywhere, from Hollywood films to your morning commute. But is the company’s $9bn valuation sustainable? And given high-profile IPOs haven't done well recently, is the very fact they're happening a good sign for marke

With more than 30 years experience under her belt, Rosemary Banyard is no fledgling in the investment world. She developed her reputation as one of the leading UK female fund managers while at Schroders in the 1990s and has gone on to become lead manager on award-winning small and mid cap funds.She has worked at firms including Sanford DeLand, launching its Free Spirit Fund in 2016, and in 2020 she joined Downing to spearhead its Unique Opportunities Fund. Under her guidance, the former delivered an impressive 31 per cent return, marking its place in the top decile of the Investment Association’s IA UK All Companies sector.In this episode, our funds editor Dave Baxter and Banyard discuss the characteristics that she looks for in companies during periods of high rates, and the businesses benefiting from challenging times. She goes on to discuss the strengths of one of her largest holdings, Games Workshop (GAW), and shares her thoughts on companies changing their capital allocation to dividends._Listen to the f

On today’s episode, we start with a look at the latest full-year results from underappreciated ventilation equipment group Volution, which has been under the cosh somewhat this summer. Michael Fahy, who covered the company's results for the Investors' Chronicle this week, talks about the growth drivers for the business. Is the price reaction confirmation that the shares' summer slump was unjustified? Next up is this week's cover story by Val Cipriani, on those persistent investment trust discounts – what are the drivers of this, and what can be done? Will it take specific catalysts to close these discounts, or are we just waiting for better macro conditions? And, importantly, are there bargains to be found for investors? Lastly, the big issue in markets over the past month – the renewed spike in bond yields in the US. Alex Newman discusses the catalysts, and what it all may mean for shares over the months ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ChatGPT has brought artificial intelligence (AI) firmly into investors’ sights in 2023. But, where are we today in terms of AI and its applications, and where are we going in the future? Cherry Reynard and Allianz Technology Trust portfolio manager Mike Seidenberg look at the implications and whether the initial euphoria from an investment perspective is warranted.There is no doubt that increasing use of data is an advantage for businesses, and those that fall behind in their use of AI risk being at a competitive disadvantage. On balance, is AI an opportunity or a threat? To see the full podcast series visit https://www.allianztechnologytrust.com/en-gb/videos-podcasts-and-reading?Topic=Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Robinson kicks off today’s podcast with a discussion about used-car retailer Pendragon’s (PDG) results. The company’s rating has shifted in the past year since AutoNation Inc’s (US:AN) £447mn takeover proposal, but the industry is still facing headwinds after the pandemic. In a similar motoring vein, Julian Hofmann shares his thoughts on the EV market, which is set to heat up as Germany and China gear up for a trade fight.Our economics expert, Hermione Taylor, jumps in the driving seat for the next segment, sharing her thoughts on how long it will take for the UK to get back to normal inflation figures. She draws on Bank of England data, which are infused with reasons to doubt a fall in inflation, but she says that there are some reasons to be optimistic.  Jennifer Johnson then reveals what we can expect to see in the pet care industry. The share price of CVS Group (CVSG), one of the six big players in the sector, fell after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced an investigation

Alex Newman is joined by Lord John Lee in the Financial Times studio, marking the first episode of a new series from the Investors’ Chronicle – Lee and the IC.With decades of experience as a ‘do-it-yourself’ investor, Lord Lee offers invaluable wisdom to investors of all experience levels.In this episode, the pair discuss the moment Lord Lee knew M&G (MNG) would be a worthwhile holding, the resilience of the City and a handful of his current favourite shares.This episode was recorded on 23 September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Investment Manager at Smithson Investment Trust, a growth-focused fund run by the team behind Fundsmith Equity, Simon Barnard is a key player in companies that have “already won”.Dave Baxter and Barnard discuss various strategies that the trust has used since its inception, including bottom-up techniques and a three-step process of acquisition. Acquisitions of strongly performing companies are central to the success of the fund, of which Smithson has acquired a wide range, including names such as Fevertree (FEVR) and Moncler (IT:MONC). Alongside well-known names, Simon highlights interesting lesser-known companies in the portfolio, including those utilising selfies and AI to boost profits. But as well as sharing aspects of a successful acquisition, Simon reveals the warning signals that can tell you when it is time to sell a holding. This interview was recorded on Thursday 14 September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode begins with Jemma Slingo, who runs through the recent results from listed management consultant Elixirr. What can the interim figures tell us about future growth?It’s then on to Arthur Sants, who discusses Vodafone, a company that features in our most recent cover story on Income Majors. What could the merger with Three bring to the company? And what can we expect the new chief executive to do?Last up, Mark Robinson shares his thoughts on ‘buy and build’ specialist Judges Scientific. Can its bread-and-butter strategy still thrive in tough economic conditions? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our company experts Michael Fahy and Julian Hofmann begin by sharing their thoughts on recent results from Melrose and Dowlais. What effect has the RTX engine recall had on Melrose? And should Dowlais be concerned about the possibility of strikes in the US?Next up is our latest cover feature on the cost of capital, by James Norrington. He gives an overview of the feature and discusses the two schools of thought central to the piece; crowding out and crowding in. Last on the agenda is the topic of high-yielding funds. Leonora Walters highlights the problems that arise when investors rely solely on yields, but what are some of the other checks that can be done to secure a resilient payer? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode begins with a discussion of housebuilder Barratt Developments’ results. What makes Barratt different from other housebuilders? And what can it tell us about the housing market as a whole? Next on the roster is a dive into UK economics. The ONS has released the latest GDP figures, but what can they tell us about the country’s position amongst other G7 nations? And what upcoming data can we expect in the weeks ahead?Last up is genome sequencing company Oxford Nanopore. The team discusses the headwinds facing the company and considers the drivers to profitability it will need to harness in the coming years.Dan Jones is joined by Mitchell Labiak, Alex Newman, Hermione Taylor and Jennifer Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of IC Interviews, Dave Baxter hosts Craig Baker. As the global chief investment officer of Willis Towers Watson, the firm that chairs the investment committee of Alliance Trust, Craig is closely involved in the company’s investment philosophy and process.The pair discuss the importance of spotting style drift in funds, the development of the trust in recent years, the benefit of the multi-manager approach and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode begins with a discussion on insurance company Prudential’s results. Is its new growth plan too ambitious? And what are the headwinds it faces given the current issues in China?Next up, it’s on to Germany, a country going through its second period of stagnation in two decades. Is Germany now the sick man of Europe (again)? And if so, is it simply at the mercy of growing economies?Lastly, we preview next week’s cover story, our annual Top 50 Funds list. We touch on the structure of the list, the performance of active managers, the biggest changes to the list over the past year and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode covers a lot of ground, from smartphone chip designer Arm, to China’s current economic state, to resurgent retailer M&S.We begin with Arthur Sants on chip maker Arm's mooted $60bn valuation. Is this realistic, given where its rivals are trading? Next up is Ali Al Enazi on his latest piece about China’s fall into deflation. What does this mean for UK companies and investors? Julian Hofmann also shares his thoughts, highlighting a problem facing China’s banking industry.This leads us to mining company BHP. Alex Hamer discusses what full-year results can tell us about the company and asks what could lie ahead given its dependence on the Chinese market.Last but not least, it’s Jemma Slingo on the FTSE 100 hopeful, M&S. What is the 139-year-old company’s new strategy? And how resilient is UK retail? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest IC Interviews, Dan Jones welcomes Katie Potts, lead fund manager for tech- and small cap-focused Herald Investment Trust. In this episode, Potts talks about how she values technology stocks, her take on the topic of the moment, AI, and her view on distinctly British attitudes to the state of the stock market.The pair go on to discuss the challenges the UK market has faced in recent years, how the increase in US takeovers has altered the investment landscape and the most exciting times in the market to be a fund manager. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of The Companies and Markets Show begins with a dive into this week’s results from big players in the insurance industry, Aviva and Legal & General. Our deputy companies editor, Julian Hofmann, explains the market reaction to the businesses’ figures and highlights areas where they may be limited. Alex Newman joins to discuss what stands out for him and offers his take on the state of the insurers. Next up is a story that has sparked interest far and wide – weight-loss drugs. Jennifer Johnson explores what’s driven the surge in sales in recent months and highlights certain companies and sectors that may be affected by the growing popularity of appetite-suppressing drugs. Last on the agenda is our latest cover feature on survivor shares. Julian Hofmann discusses the companies that have withstood the test of time, and highlights the ingredients for long-term success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, we start with a look at the latest interim figures from auto parts maker TI Fluid Systems. Next up is this week's cover story: How to be an income investor in a world of higher yields. Dave Baxter talks about what higher bond yields will mean for portfolios. Lastly, Val Cipriani talks about the dos and dont's of managing a small portfolio – striking the right balance between costs and diversification is particularly important. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, HSBC is first up on the docket. Julian Hofmann and Mark Robinson are on hand to make sense of their results. Next up is a discussion of who will benefit most from the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. James Norrington is the writer of our long read on that topic this week and joins us in the studio to discuss areas of the AI market that may not be getting as much attention as others.And finally, Jemma Slingo returns to discuss UK small caps given their underperformance this year.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following on from the mass of FTSE 100 results released this week, today’s episode focuses on large caps. The team begins by discussing results from gas provider Centrica. Given the elevated first half profits, is there a sensitive political situation on the horizon? And what is the current valuation case for a business like this?Next up is our cover feature from this week on luxury goods businesses. Aside from structural tailwinds, what have luxury brands done right over the past few years? And which companies are trading on valuations that investors may find alluring? It’s on to wealth manager St James’s Place next. Is their tactic to place a fee cap for long-term clients a wise choice? Will it help the business move away from its ‘premium price’ reputation?Lastly, the team talk about recent GSK results. Are investor concerns going to stick around for a while? And where are the company’s potential areas of growth?Dan Jones is joined by Michael Fahy, Alex Newman and Jennifer Johnson. Hosted on Acast. Se

On today’s episode, our team begins with a discussion about Brickability’s results. What is the company’s position in the market and how well prepared is it to weather a housing downturn? Next up is this week’s cover story on the hidden stars of the FTSE 100, which explores businesses that have unusual growth stories. In this segment, Alex Newman runs through the thinking behind the piece and discusses how the ‘secret’ companies underpin the strength of the UK economy.Last on the agenda is new FTSE 250 entrant ME Group International. Although it may not be the most exciting, or contemporary, business, it has seen significant growth in recent months. What can breaking down the valuation tell us about the business? And could this be a UK market success story? Dan Jones is joined by Michael Fahy, Mark Robinson, Alex Newman and Jemma Slingo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.