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Pengana International Equities Limited (ASX: PIA)

The largest International Ethical LIC on the ASX. Targeting fully franked dividends, paid quarterly.

VIEW PIA WEBSITE

May 2023 - Monthly REPORT

May Report

SHARE PRICE

NTA POST-TAX

NTA PRE-TAX

INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE1

DIVIDEND YIELD2

CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS PAID

1. Investment performance since new mandate adopted 1 July 2017.
2. Dividend yield is based on current displayed share price and dividends declared over the previous 12 months
3. Grossed up yield is based on current displayed share price, dividends declared over the previous 12 months and the tax rate and franking percentage applicable for the most recently declared dividend

SUMMARY

• The Portfolio returned 3.4% in May, while the benchmark returned 1.1%
• Global share markets weakened in May as macro-economic concerns outweighed investor enthusiasm for the opportunities emerging in AI
• Australian dollar weakness contributed to share market returns in AUD terms

PORTFOLIO

Top Holdings (alphabetically)

Alphabet Inc
United States
Communication Services
Alphabet Inc. operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides web-based search, advertisements, maps, software applications, mobile operating systems, consumer content, enterprise solutions, commerce, and hardware products.
Amazon
United States
Consumer Discretionary
Amazon.com, Inc. is an online retailer that offers a wide range of products. The Company products include books, music, computers, electronics and numerous other products. Amazon offers personalized shopping services, Web-based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers. Amazon also operates a cloud platform offering services globally.
AMETEK Inc
United States
Industrials
AMETEK, Inc. is a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. The Company manufactures advanced instruments for process, aerospace, power, and industrial markets and is a supplier of electrical interconnects, specialty metals, technical motors and systems, and floor care and specialty motors.
Bank Central Asia Tbk PT
Indonesia
Financials
PT Bank Central Asia Tbk provides banking and related services. The Bank also provides custodianship, trusteeship, and management of pension funds of financial institutions. Through its subsidiaries, the Bank also provides leasing and consumer financing services.
Deere & Co
United States
Industrials
Deere & Company manufactures and distributes a range of agricultural, construction, forestry, and commercial and consumer equipment. The Company supplies replacement parts for its own products and for those of other manufacturers. Deere also provides product and parts financing services. Deere and Company extends its services and products worldwide.
Meta Platforms Inc
United States
Communication Services
Meta Platforms, Inc. operates as a social technology company. The Company builds applications and technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. Meta Platform is also involved in advertisements, augmented, and virtual reality.
Microsoft
United States
Information Technology
Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports software products. The Company offers operating system software, server application software, business and consumer applications software, software development tools, and Internet and intranet software. Microsoft also develops video game consoles and digital music entertainment devices.
Schneider Electric SE
France
Industrials
Schneider Electric SE manufactures electrical power products. The Company offers car chargers, home security goods, light switches, access control, sensors, valves, circuit breakers, cables, accessories, signaling devices, fuse, motor starters, and voltage transformers. Schneider Electric serves customers worldwide.
Synopsys Inc
United States
Information Technology
Synopsys, Inc. supplies electronic design automation solutions to the global electronics market. The Company provides design technologies to creators of advanced integrated circuits, electronic systems, and systems on a chip. Synopsys also provides consulting services and support to its customers to streamline the overall design process and accelerate time to market.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc
United States
Health Care
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated discovers, develops, and commercializes pharmaceutical products. The Company develops drugs for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, cancer, inflammatory bowel, autoimmune disease, and neurological disorders. Vertex Pharmaceuticals serves healthcare sector worldwide.
See Portfolio Breakdown

Sector Breakdown

Capitalisation Breakdown

Region Breakdown

PERFORMANCE

Performance Table

NET PERFORMANCE FOR PERIODS ENDING 31 May 2023 1
1M 1Y 3Y Pengana SI
July 20171
(ASX: PIA) 3.4% 12% 3.9% 7.5%
Index2 1.1% 13.1% 11.9% 11.6%

Swipe horizontally to see all columns

COMMENTARY

Market Review
Global markets were slightly weaker in local currency terms in May. Macroeconomic worries during the month outweighed investor enthusiasm for companies exposed to generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) growth opportunities. The MSCI World Total Return Index AUD delivered 1.1% during the month.

Share prices of semiconductor companies soared 18% in May. This followed US-based chip developer NVIDIA announcing plans to dramatically increase production to meet surging demand for its advanced graphics processing unit (GPU) chips used to power AI applications.

In contrast, most other sectors weakened, with energy and materials sectors underperforming as commodity prices plummeted. 

Declining manufacturing activity and service sector growth in China reversed the economic momentum seen since the COVID-19 lockdowns ended late last year. Concerns about economic deceleration also impacted European share markets, while the tech rally boosted US stocks and Japan edged higher despite rising inflation.

Portfolio Commentary
The Portfolio benefitted in May from its overweight exposure to information technology and communication services. These sectors outperformed the broader market as investors focussed on opportunities that AI is expected to deliver.

In addition, the Portfolio’s largest active weight is in health care where, as in the tech sectors, secular growth trends and innovation create opportunities but also attract competition. The Portfolio holds several biotech companies, a segment traditionally characterised by weak profitability. However, strong research and development by companies in the Portfolio has helped generate strong cash flows. This has been achieved by developing next-generation treatments that meaningfully improve the standard of patient care ahead of competitors. High levels of trust in established brands enables these first movers to capture new markets, delivering early commercial success. These factors contributed to the Portfolio’s health care positions outperforming during May.

US-based biopharmaceutical group Vertex Pharmaceutical’s new triple-combination therapy is extending its dominance in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. US pharmaceutical company AbbVie, a leader in arthritis treatment, known for its blockbuster Humira antibody, has also developed next-generation products Rinvoq and Skyrizi (which are also used to treat psoriasis).

The Portfolio’s information technology and communication services holdings outperformed due to strong exposure to the potential earnings growth which AI innovation is expected to deliver. US-based chip design software company Synopsys is expected to compound its strong earnings results with an acceleration in revenue growth. Shares of US-based semiconductor and infrastructure software developer Broadcom rose upon expectations of rapid demand growth for its customised AI chips.

The Portfolio’s consumer discretionary holdings underperformed as returns in the sector were dominated by auto stocks, especially Tesla, which were not held in the Portfolio.

Stock selection was strongest in the US. Streaming and production company Netflix outperformed after the company disclosed strong subscriber growth in its advertising-supported service. Google-owner Alphabet‘s share price increased after the company highlighted multiple AI initiatives at its developer conference on 10 May.

The Portfolio benefitted from its underweight positions in energy, materials, consumer staples and financials, which all underperformed during the month.

Additional Commentary
Last month we invited shareholders to engage with us and ask any questions in relation to the Portfolio, current economic environment, or any other items related to PIA. In this month’s newsletter, we have published a response to the commonly occurring themes, questions and comments from shareholders. We believe this information will be useful for all PIA shareholders and anyone considering investing in the company.

We would also like to thank all shareholders who took the time to respond to us, we very much appreciate it when shareholders take the time to engage.

Structured for Diversification, Income and Growth

Pengana International Equities Limited (ASX: PIA) is a listed investment company (LIC) which aims to provide shareholders with capital growth over the long term, as well as a reliable, fully franked dividend income, paid quarterly. A robust responsible investment framework provides an added layer of risk mitigation.

The LIC structure puts PIA in a very unique position to pay fully franked dividends through investing in a diversified portfolio of global companies that meet the investment manager’s high quality and durable growth criteria at reasonable prices.

Notably, PIA has sustained its quarterly dividend payments even in challenging periods, such as during the 2020 pandemic when many companies cut dividend payments.
Moreover, because PIA is subject to Australian tax, franking credits, which are particularly valuable to many income focused investors, are attached to its dividends.

PIA has paid consistent, quarterly, fully franked dividends, which have increased over time. The current cash yield is 5.5% or 7.3% when grossed up for franking credits.

The benefits and tailwinds of PIA’s LIC structures

  • The attractive dividends that investors have come to expect from Australian companies are under pressure
    from three separate, and menacing, threats:
    • High inflation,
    • Rising interest rates
    • Slowing economic growth
  • Over 80% of dividends paid from Australian companies come from just four sectors of the economy (materials, financials, real estate and energy), forcing many income-oriented investors to be highly concentrated in industries with significant sustainability challenges.
  • The share prices of these companies are exceedingly sensitive to dividend payments, (potentially leaving them under further pressure if dividends falter).

Many income investors have effectively been forced to choose between appropriately diversifying their equity exposure and meeting their income requirements with potentially overvalued (and in some cases unsustainable) shareholdings in a concentrated portfolio of companies.

  • The LIC structure of PIA provides the company with more control over the distribution of taxable income compared to traditional unit trusts. This is because there is no requirement to pay out all taxable income to investors at the end of each financial year. This provides a listed investment company with the flexibility to smooth dividend payments to investors from year to year. PIA’s shareholders are able to:
  1. Gain exposure to a professionally managed and diversified portfolio of high-quality and growing global businesses, and
  2. Receive a fully franked dividend, paid quarterly, which currently equates to a yield of approximately 7.3% when grossed up for franking credits.
  • As interest rates rise and commodity prices fall, rising costs and falling revenues are now squeezing the profits of many Australian companies, which is starting to impact their ability to sustain high dividends. We believe this will provide significant support to PIA as a differentiated, ASX-listed, source of reliable fully franked dividends.

You can read more about the risks of an overconcentrated Australian income portfolio here or here.

Investment Strategy
Investing in a portfolio of international shares provides Australian investors with a more diversified mix of companies than is available in our home market. While Australia has some great mining, banking, energy, and real estate businesses, these segments represent a small part of the global stock market.

Investing in international shares provides exposure to exciting opportunities in areas such as technology (artificial intelligence), industrials (manufacturing automation as production is onshored), and health care (new drugs to treat life-threatening conditions) that are simply not available in the local market. Increased diversification generally provides greater stability of earnings across the portfolio.

The Portfolio has been managed by the highly experienced New Jersey-based Harding Loevner team since May 2021. Harding Loevner currently manage over US$50bn in global shares. The strategy has been tried and tested through many different market cycles and economic environments since it was first implemented in 1989.

The strategy has shown that bottom-up investing in high-quality, growing businesses at reasonable prices, identified through fundamental research with a long-term, global perspective can lead to long-term superior risk-adjusted returns. Quality companies are those which demonstrate higher sustainable profits, stronger balance sheets, and faster growth.

Responsible Investing
The management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors is integrated into the entire investment process. The investment team regularly meets with the companies in which it invests. PIA’s ethical framework further seeks to exclude companies with unsustainable business models.

We believe that our responsible approach to investing enhances long-term returns through better managing a range of risks that can impact investor returns. Companies that avoid polluting the environment, invest in their workforce, monitor their supply chains carefully, and are well-governed are likely to avoid holding stranded assets and will tend to outperform over the long term. However, at times the returns of such companies will deviate from the market index, e.g. fossil fuel stocks outperformed in 2022 when energy prices increased.

Performance
The portfolio manager’s quality growth strategy has performed strongly over the years, outperforming its MSCI World Total Return Index since it was first established in 1989.

Last year’s investment returns were disappointing as the expectation of increasing interest rates resulted in lower share prices, with growth companies especially impacted. Quality companies that entered the downturn with valuations based on higher earnings multiples also underperformed. This was therefore an unfavorable environment for quality growth strategies such as PIA’s.

The global economy is now moving into a period in which interest rates are expected to reach a peak, but may well remain elevated for an extended period of time. This increases the likelihood of a slowdown in consumer spending as household budgets come under strain. In this environment, businesses that depend on consumer spending growth, or are sensitive to finance costs, may come under pressure.

PIA seeks to hold a portfolio of quality businesses that are able to grow earnings throughout the economic cycle, and can finance new investments in any credit environment. It focuses on business models aligned to long-term growth trends such as AI, automation, the aging population, and the expansion in global travel.

Over the calendar year to 31 May 2023, PIA’s portfolio has delivered a return of 13.97% (after fees and expenses) compared to its benchmark’s return of 13.72%.

Market Outlook
We believe that the Portfolio is positioned to perform well in the prevailing economic environment. The manager will continue to focus on companies able to grow earnings irrespective of the economic cycle and with strong balance sheets. We are confident this approach will deliver long-term outperformance to our shareholders as well as support our mandate to deliver stable, fully franked, dividend income payments.

 

  1. Based on the 16 June 2023 closing share price of $0.99, grossed up for franking credits at a 25% company
    tax rate. Updated yield (based on share price) is available on our company website: www.pengana.com/PIA
  2. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

PROFILE

STATISTICAL DATA (Since Mandated)

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY
VOLATILITY 3
11.3%
NUMBER OF STOCKS
60
BETA 4
0.83

FEATURES

  • ASX CODE PIA
  • FEES Management Fee: 1.23% p.a.
    Performance Fee: 15.38% of any return greater than the Index***
  • INCEPTION DATE 19 March 2004
  • MANDATED 1 July 2017
  • BenchmarkMSCI World Total Return Index, Net Dividend Reinvested, in A$ ("Index")
  • NTA Post Tax ** A$ 1.193
    31/05/2023
  • NTA Pre Tax ** A$ 1.223
    31/05/2023
  • Price Close ** A$ 1.000
  • Shares On Issue ** 256.54m
  • Premium/Discount to pre-tax NTA ** -18.2%
  • DRP Yes

Portfolio Managers

Peter Baughan

Portfolio Manager

Jingyi Li

Portfolio Manager

Rick Schmidt

Portfolio Manager

Description

Pengana International Equities Limited (trading on the ASX as PIA) is the largest international ethical Listed Investment Company (“LIC”) on the ASX. PIA’s objective is to provide shareholders with capital growth as well as regular, reliable, and fully franked dividends.

The strategy aims to generate superior risk-adjusted returns, through investing in an actively managed portfolio of global companies that meet the investment team’s high-quality and durable growth criteria at reasonable prices. A robust ethical framework provides an added layer of risk mitigation.

These companies are identified through the conduct of fundamental research, with a long-term, global perspective, and must exhibit the following four key investment criteria: competitive advantages, quality management, financial strength, and sustainable growth potential.

EXPLORE OUR FUNDS

Harding Loevner International Fund
Harding Loevner International Fund
Axiom International Fund
Axiom International Fund
Axiom International Fund (Hedged)
Axiom International Fund (Hedged)
Australian Equities Fund
Australian Equities Fund
High Conviction Property Securities Fund
High Conviction Property Securities Fund
Global Small Companies Fund
Global Small Companies Fund
WHEB Sustainable Impact Fund
WHEB Sustainable Impact Fund
Emerging Companies Fund
Emerging Companies Fund
High Conviction Equities Fund
High Conviction Equities Fund
Pengana International Equities Limited (ASX: PIA)
Pengana International Equities Limited (ASX: PIA)
Private Equity Trust (ASX: PE1)
Private Equity Trust (ASX: PE1)
Alpha Israel Fund
Alpha Israel Fund
Pengana Diversified Private Credit Fund
Pengana Diversified Private Credit Fund
CONTACT INVESTOR SERVICES
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1. As at the last day of last month prior to publishing of this report. Performance figures refer to the movement in net assets per share, reversing out the impact of option exercises and payments of dividends, before tax paid or accrued on realised and unrealised gains. Please refer to the PDS for information regarding risks. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance, the value of investments can go up and down.
2. Inception date of PIA: 19 March 2004, new investment team with new mandate adopted: 1 July 2017. Pengana International Equities Limited has been managed under the new investment mandate by the Pengana investment team since 1 July 2017. The performance since mandated in the table above refers to the movement in net assets per share since the new mandate adopted on 1 July 2017.

3. Annualised Standard Deviation since mandated
4. Relative to MSCI World Total Return Index, Net Dividends Reinvested
**As at the last day of last month prior to publishing of this report. The figures are unaudited.
*** Index/MSCI World refers to the MSCI World Total Return Index, Net Dividends Reinvested, in A$.