MAGELLAN - In The Know

Exploring the market: Key insights on trends, spending and growth

The current investment landscape is a turbulent one, but it is possible to survey the situation and find investment opportunities. In this episode Portfolio Manager Alan Pullen is joined by Investment Analysts, Emma Henderson, Claire Britton and Roy Harrison to discuss the latest global trends and how they are affecting some of the world’s biggest brands —from LVMH to the American Tower companies.

The team offers insights on consumer spending trends and the resilience of some companies while others decline. They cover a lot of ground from the adaptation of Meta Platforms to market threats such as TikTok and the anticipated stimulus package in China, to the opportunities to invest in the infrastructure behind the growth of data usage.

Geopolitics and investment — the three hotspots to watch

Geopolitical shocks can happen abruptly and when they do, the disruption to trade and global economies can be profound. In this episode of ‘Magellan In the Know’ we turn to one of Magellan’s trusted geopolitics advisers to survey the situations in the world’s trouble spots, and give sound, sometimes surprising, assessments of what to expect, and where and when to expect it.

An observer with extraordinary expertise in the field, Former Acting CIA Director Michael Morell, speaks with Magellan Head of Global Equities and Portfolio Manager, Arvid Streimann surveying possible scenarios in the Middle East, Ukraine, and, closer to home, the South China Sea. It’s a frank and fascinating assessment of where disruptions may happen, the impact for investors and, among other things, what the consequences will be if Donald Trump regains the White House in November.

Chipotle’s winning growth recipe

How do you build one of North America’s best known restaurant brands while still maintaining high quality, low price, and industry-leading margins? Chief Financial Officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Jack Hartung chats with Emma Henderson, Magellan’s Acting Sector Head of Franchises and Healthcare, on how Chipotle has maintained its commitment to food integrity while achieving remarkable profitability.

They delve into the strategic decisions that have allowed Chipotle to scale successfully, leveraging its size for supply chain diversification, embracing digital innovation, and maintaining ownership of its restaurants to preserve quality and drive growth. Hear valuable insights into the financial and operational strategies behind Chipotle's sustained success.

This podcast was recorded 13 August 2024 (AEST), prior to the news of Chipotle’s CEO transition.

From Resilient Retailers to Struggling Brands - A consumer sector deep dive

We are in the midst of a highly complex consumer environment, with the market bracing for losses due to spending that’s been suppressed by inflation and interest rates. But there are still shining lights and wealth to be created in the right places.

In this episode of “Magellan in the Know,” Emma Henderson, acting head of Magellan's Consumer Franchises and Healthcare team, is joined by Investment Analysts, Tracey Wahlberg and Lucina Martin, for a discussion into the complexities of the current consumer landscape.

They share key factors influencing market caution, the impact of inflation on consumer behaviour, and the investment opportunities emerging amidst these challenges. From the resilience of retail giants like Costco and Amazon to the challenges for iconic brands like Nike and Estee Lauder, the team provide valuable insights for investors navigating a volatile market. 

Data Centres and Beyond: WEC Energy powering regional US growth

US utilities are on the verge of a significant growth super cycle, fuelled by the expansion of data centres and a revival in manufacturing and supply chain, all underpinned by the continuous push for net-zero emissions.

The I-94 corridor within the WEC Energy Group service territory is just a microcosm of what is currently unfolding across the US. The corridor has rapidly become a hotbed for economic growth. Microsoft has established a presence in the corridor with the construction of a substantial data centre, as well as other major global consumer brands, pharmaceutical and technology companies. WEC Energy, one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the US, is one of many well-placed to benefit from these megatrends, thereby creating low risk long term value for its investors.

In this episode, Magellan Portfolio Manager Jowell Amores is joined by Gale Klappa, Chairman of WEC Energy, and Jim Paetsch, Executive Director of a regional development agency in the Midwest discussing this underappreciated investment opportunity.

 

Lessons learnt from investing in essential services

The long term regular and reliable returns from the infrastructure sector present an overwhelming opportunity.  Infrastructure investing may initially seem intimidating to investors due to the substantial capital expenditures that companies require upfront. However, the long term regular and reliable returns from the infrastructure sector have the potential to grow your wealth over time with a high degree of confidence.

In this episode, Magellan’s Head of Infrastructure, Gerald Stack, and Portfolio Managers Ben McVicar and Ofer Karliner discuss what they look for in attractive assets and their experiences over a combined 60 years of investing in these essential services.

Decoding the Magnificent Seven: Profitability, fundamentals, and the future

Markets were taught a lesson in the turn-of-the-century’s dot-com bubble. Over excitement and massive investment in companies that hardly really existed, let alone made worthwhile returns, resulted in a traumatic correction. But is it happening again? With the high-profile technology companies — widely known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ —providing huge returns in 2023, some observers fear a repeat of the tech wreck, but all is not what it seems.

In this episode of ‘Magellan In the Know’, Key Account Manager Martin Van Eyk explores the landscape surrounding the Magnificent 7 with Portfolio Manager Alan Pullen. Together they discuss which companies will remain good long-term prospects because of strong fundamentals, and how new innovations like artificial intelligence can create change and growth. But they also look at which of the seven are best left alone.

Mastering the world of payments

For more than 14 years, Magellan has invested in Mastercard — one of the world’s largest global payment networks. In this episode of Magellan In the Know, Magellan’s Portfolio Manager of Core Global and Core ESG, Elisa Di Marco, is joined by Mastercard’s Head of Investor Relations, Devin Corr, for an exploration of Mastercard’s competitive advantages and innovations in payments. Devin explains how that by embracing diverse revenue streams across its network, many of which work quietly in the background, Mastercard has reached $9 trillion in global payments volume, and discusses how it intends to continue to grow in a world with ever-expanding use cases for financial transactions.

Chipping away at the semiconductor market

It’s a fascinating time in the semiconductor chip market. Thanks to the proliferation of devices, and even cars, that are heavily dependent on chip availability, and geopolitical trends that may impact supply, chips are under a global spotlight. In this episode of Magellan — In the Know, Head of Global Equities and Portfolio Manager Arvid Streimann discusses the semiconductor chip ecosystem with Investment Analysts Adrian Lu and Dom Facchin.

They explore the critical role chips play as the building blocks of innovation, driving structural growth in areas like artificial intelligence, electrification, and cloud computing. They discuss the implications of chip manufacturing, and the strategic considerations guiding investment decisions.

Green Horizons: Discover the innovative sustainability strategies of Nestlé and Lowe's

Sound environmental, social, and governance principles (ESG) — are crucial for ongoing sustainability and risk management, as well as the growing need to meet community and environmental expectations.

In this episode of Magellan in the Know, we relook at highlights from two companies with long and proud ESG credentials. Firstly, the Global Head of Public Affairs for Nestlé, Rob Cameron, describes how Nestlé is leading its supply chain to embrace regenerative agriculture, recycling, packaging innovation and human rights. Followed by Chris Cassell, the Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Lowe’s Home Improvement — the massive US equivalent of Australia’s Bunnings — who talks about Lowe’s commitment to sustainability and why it makes good business sense — from its supply chains to its customers.

Listen to the full episodes here:

Cultivating change – Nestlé’s leading approach on sustainability and creating shared value.

Building the future - drilling into sustainability at Lowe’s