August has been a very tough month for Australian and global investors. At the time of writing the Australian sharemarket is down over 10% for the month. It is extremely difficult to forecast where the market will go on a day to day basis as it is influenced by many factors - but what we do know is that panicked selling by others often creates opportunities for stock pickers like us who have a longer term focus.
There are a number of contributors to the current falls being seen. There is weakness in the Chinese economy which has undermined commodity prices including iron ore, copper and oil. The Chinese financial system has also been very volatile, with significant falls in the Chinese stock market after a steep rise in the previous 12 months fuelled by a retail stock buying frenzy. The Chinese Government has been trying to bolster its market without success. In addition the reporting season locally has been quite disappointing with many Australian companies providing muted guidance for the 2016 fiscal year and this has seen weakness across a broad range of stocks. In addition both ANZ and CBA are in the process of raising $8 billion of new equity at significant discounts in August and this has also depressed the prices of other stocks across the market. As many would be aware, we have been cautious on the banks given sluggish credit growth and increasing capital requirements.
Whilst QVE has not been immune to the broad sell off, we have been cautiously positioned for a while and remain comfortable with the valuations of our key positions. In the short term, fickle investor sentiment will continue to cause wild swings in valuations, but over the medium term quality companies will be recognised for their ability to produce steady, growing earnings. These earnings underpin a growing dividend stream which we have always focused on as a key part of the investment appeal.
Most of the carnage has been in commodity related stocks and more cyclical companies. Earnings forecasts by the markets have assumed an acceleration in growth from current levels, something we have thought unlikely given aging demographics, high debt levels and structural problems with growth in China. QVE’s portfolio has been more focused on companies that will be less affected by economic sluggishness. QVE is defensively positioned with circa 7% of the portfolio invested in regulated utilities, along with holdings in quality defensive companies, such as Hotel Property Investments and Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group. Further, companies such as Aurizon, yielding 5.5%, have take or pay contracts with its coal haulage customers, and receive a regulated return on its “below rail” network. Recent changes to its EBAs will allow the company to be more cost efficient.
We know that prices can gyrate wildly in the short term, but we also know that such gyrations will create opportunities to buy good quality companies with the cash that we have kept on hand to take advantage of such volatility. We cannot forecast short term market moves but we do know that behind the noise, well managed quality companies will deliver over the medium to long term for our clients.
While we believe sharemarkets will be volatile for a little while longer, given many stocks in Australia are now yielding well over 5%, and that it appears interest rates will stay low both here and overseas for a while longer given continued economic weakness, we expect the Australian market to find a base soon.
This is not the first downturn or period of extreme volatility that IML has been though in our 17 year history and unfortunately it won't be the last. From experience we know that periods such as these are a good time to calmly look for opportunities to selectively buy stocks when we adjudge them to be at very attractive long term prices as often many stocks get oversold. QVE is well positioned to do this with our cash levels close to 28% when the expected proceeds from the Energy Developments and Asciano takeover bid are taken into account.
For further information please don't hesitate to contact us on 1300 552 895.
Kind Regards,
Anton Tagliaferro Simon Conn Investment Director Senior Portfolio Manager Investors Mutual Limited Investors Mutual Limited
QVE Price at posting:
$1.00 Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
