LA Private

Airlie Quarterly Update April 2024

[00:00:37] The ASX has had another strong quarter up 5%. What are your key takeaways from the February reporting season?

The ASX has shown remarkable resilience over the past quarter, reflecting a positive shift in market sentiment compared to a year ago. With the recent reporting season, there’s evidence contradicting the doomsday scenarios previously priced into the market. Companies have demonstrated stronger-than-expected earnings, buoyed by maintained prices, stable volumes, and even raw material price deflation, leading to improved gross margins. Sectors like consumer discretionary, once feared due to economic cycle concerns, have seen surprising performance, as seen by Premier Investments and Nick Scarli’s significant stock price increases.

Another observation is the moderation in price dynamics, with companies returning to more typical cadences of price increases, averaging around 2 – 3%. While this may not necessarily translate directly to CPI data, it signifies a cooling of price pressures within the market. As investors navigate these shifts, there’s a return to focusing on fundamental analysis, marking a departure from narrative-driven investing. Opportunities still exist, although in a more normalised environment, emphasising bottom-up selection of undervalued quality stocks rather than sector-specific trends.

 

[00:05:00] What new opportunities are you considering?

IDP Education, a recent addition to the fund, operates in two key areas: English language testing and student placements for international students. As one of only two distributors worldwide for the IELTS test, they hold a significant position in the market. Their expertise in guiding students through the complex process of applying to universities abroad, without charging them directly but rather being compensated by the universities, shows their advantageous business model. With deep-rooted relationships with 600 universities and a 45-year history, IDP Education is a solid foundation in the industry.

The current opportunity arises from the political and regulatory challenges surrounding immigration in countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, which have led to a significant drop in IDP Education’s stock price and valuation multiples. Despite these short-term headwinds, the fundamental strength of the business, marked by consistently high returns and significant EBIT growth over the last decade, suggests a compelling long-term investment opportunity. As immigration policies potentially shift back in favour of facilitating international student flows, IDP Education is well positioned for a re-rating, making its current valuation particularly attractive for investors seeking quality growth opportunities.

 

[00:08:51] Can you provide some insight on the healthcare sector and how you assess the sector?

ResMed has experienced a divergence between sentiment-driven headwinds and robust earnings performance, particularly in light of its main competitor, Philips, facing FDA constraints. Despite concerns surrounding ResMed’s addressable market due to regulatory shifts, recent market rationalisation has led to a positive revaluation of the stock, marking a significant uptick in its share price. This shows the importance of distinguishing between market sentiment and fundamental business performance when evaluating investment opportunities.

When assessing investments within the healthcare sector, two critical factors emerge: the capital intensity of the business and who bears the financial burden. While some healthcare segments, such as private hospitals and diagnostic imaging, face significant capital demands and reliance on government funding, others, like ResMed and Cochlear, benefit from consumer payments or address niche markets with limited government involvement. This means understanding these dynamics is crucial for navigating the healthcare sector’s diverse landscape and achieving optimal investment outcomes over time.

 

Important Information: Units in the fund(s) referred to herein are issued by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946, AFS Licence No. 304 301) trading as Airlie Funds Management (‘Airlie’). This material is issued by Airlie and has been prepared for general information purposes only and must not be construed as investment advice or as an investment recommendation. This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer documentation, offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for interests in any type of investment product or service. You should obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (‘PDS’) and Target Market Determination (‘TMD’) and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making a decision to acquire, or continue to hold, the relevant financial product. A copy of the relevant PDS and TMD relating to an Airlie financial product or service may be obtained by calling +61 2 9235 4760 or by visiting www.airliefundsmanagement.com.au.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of any fund, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to implement its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Airlie. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. This material may contain ‘forward-looking statements’. Actual events or results or the actual performance of an Airlie financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. Airlie makes no guarantee that such information is accurate, complete or timely and does not provide any warranties regarding results obtained from its use. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material. No representation or warranty is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information contained in this material. Airlie will not be responsible or liable for any losses arising from your use or reliance upon any part of the information contained in this material.

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