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Australian Equities Fund

A portfolio of Australian businesses with transparent and resilient business models

August 2023 - Monthly REPORT

Quality retailers shine in a tough environment

SUMMARY

The Fund generated a -0.7% return in August.  By way of comparison, the Australian stock market declined by -0.7%, whilst the (annual) return of the RBA cash rate plus 6% equated to approximately +0.8% for the month.  Calendar year to date, the Fund has achieved a return of +9.4%, which compares favourably to our benchmark return of +6.4% over the same period, and the Australian stock market at +7.0%.   We are pleased that a portfolio of defensive, hard assets continues to deliver a healthy, positive real return in varying market conditions.

The key message that we took away from this corporate earnings season was that whilst the outlook for corporate revenues is likely more resilient than first thought, ongoing inflation continues to provide upward pressure on the cost of doing business.  We are pleased to be able to report that for the majority of our holdings, we received a positive validation of our respective investment theses.  Standout performers included our discretionary retail holdings Accent Group and Super Retail GroupResmed was a notable detractor in the period, offsetting what was otherwise a strong period for the Fund.

PORTFOLIO

Top Holdings (alphabetically)

BHP Group Ltd
Australia
Materials
BHP Group Limited operates as a mining company. The Company engages in the exploration, development, production, and processing of iron ore, metallurgical coal, and copper. BHP Group serves customers worldwide.
CSL Ltd
Australia
Health Care
CSL Limited develops, manufactures and markets human pharmaceutical and diagnostic products derived from human plasma. The Company's products include pediatric and adult vaccines, infection, pain medicine, skin disorder remedies, antivenoms, anticoagulants, and immunoglobulins.
Evolution Mining Ltd
Australia
Materials
Evolution Mining Ltd is a gold exploration company with operations in Western Australia. The Company owns the gold mines -Cracow, Edna May, Mt Rawdon, and Pajingo - and the Mt Carlton development project.
Medibank Pvt Ltd
Australia
Financials
Medibank Private Limited offers private health care coverage for hospital and ancillary services. The Company offers a range of health insurance products such as health, travel, pet, and life coverage to overseas students and visitors. Medibank serves customers throughout Australia.
National Australia Bank Ltd
Australia
Financials
National Australia Bank Limited (NAB) provides banking financial solutions. The Company offers internet banking, accounts, insurance, credit cards, home loans, and personal loans. NAB serves customers in Australia.
nib holdings Ltd
Australia
Australia
NIB Holdings Ltd. offers health insurance products. Depending on the specific product, the Company covers ambulance costs; and reimburses for costs not covered by Medicare including dental, optical, physiotherapy and natural therapies; and some hospitalization costs.
ResMed
Australia
Health Care
ResMed Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets medical equipment for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing. The Company sells diagnostic and treatment devices in various countries through its subsidiaries and independent distributors.
SG Fleet Group Ltd
Australia
Industrials
SG Fleet Group Ltd provides vehicle leasing and fleet management services. The Company offers its services to corporate and government customers and individual employees of those customers.
Telstra Group Ltd
Australia
Communication Services
Telstra Corporation Limited is a full service domestic and international telecommunications provider for Australia. The Company provides telephone exchange lines to homes and businesses, supplying local, long distance and international telephone calls and supplying mobile telecommunications services. Telstra also provides data, internet, on-line services and directory services.
Woolworths Group Ltd
Australia
Consumer Staples
Woolworths Group Limited offers retail operations. The Company operates general merchandise consumer stores and supermarkets, as well as engages in procurement of food, liquor, and products. Woolworths Group also provides hotels which includes pubs, food, accommodation, and gaming operations. Woolworths Group serves customers in Australia and New Zealand.

Sector Breakdown

Capitalisation Breakdown

Country Breakdown

Custom Sector Breakdown

PERFORMANCE

Performance Table

NET PERFORMANCE FOR PERIODS ENDING 31 Aug 20231
1 MTH 1 YEAR 3 YEARS P.A. 5 YEARS P.A. 10 YEARS P.A. SINCE INCEPTION P.A.
Australian Equities Fund -0.7% 6.2% 7.0% 3.8% 6.3% 8.6%
Fund Objective: RBA Cash Rate plus 6% 0.8% 9.3% 7.3% 7.2% 7.5% 8.4%
ASX Accumulation All Ordinaries Index -0.7% 8.9% 10.6% 7.2% 8.2% 6.6%

Swipe horizontally to see all columns

Performance Chart

NET PERFORMANCE SINCE INCEPTION2

COMMENTARY

As in previous months, the period end performance figure belied the underlying volatility experienced during the month, with the ASX down as much as -3.5% at its low point.  The catalyst for a recovery this month was the July CPI print which came in below expectations, and better than expected retail sales data from both official ABS statistics and corporate commentary.  Amidst all of the noise, it was a relatively ‘normal’ corporate reporting season, with the number of beats/in-line/misses broadly balanced.  This was an improvement from February, where elevated levels of forecast risk post-Covid resulted in a far greater number of ‘misses’.  That said, outlook statements on balance disappointed, with a resilient revenue environment more than offset by ongoing inflation in the cost of doing business, in particular around the wage inflation and rising financing cost lines.  Overall corporate earnings forecasts for FY24 declined by around 3% during the month.

We view corporate earnings season as an important validation event for our longer term investment theses across the portfolio – more so than a period to extract short term performance in any given year.  We are pleased to report that for the vast majority of our holdings, we believe we received that affirmative validation – be it in reported financial performance, operational milestones achieved, and discussions with management during numerous meetings over the month.  Standouts during the period were our holdings in discretionary retail such as Accent Group and Super Retail Group, both of which reported earnings ahead of expectations for FY23, as well as trading updates considerably more resilient than the market was expecting.  Importantly for our investment thesis, both companies are demonstrably better businesses now than they were pre-Covid.  Other positive validations came from James Hardie Industries, Medibank, and SG Fleet, whilst CSL was able to provide more clarity around the trajectory of gross margins, which had concerned investors in the preceding months.

Resmed was a material detractor for the Fund during the period, offsetting what would otherwise have been a month of solid outperformance.  Share price weakness in August for Resmed was driven by two primary factors.  Firstly, strong top line momentum,  including record quarterly US device sales, failed to translate into commensurate profit growth, with a previously guided recovery in gross margins deferred, and elevated operating costs.  Relative to our investment thesis, the top line momentum validated our expectations for strong industry growth, compounded by market share gains for RMD as a major competitor is absent with product recalls.  We can reconcile the GM evolution with product mix during the period, and the elevated costs associated with, amongst other things, securing the additional market share during the period.  On this basis, our medium term cash flow projections remain largely unchanged.  The second factor relates to the approval of a drug (GLP-1 RA) for the treatment of obesity, which is recognised as a significant contributor to sleep apnoea.  We believe the threat this poses to Resmed’s potential target market has been over estimated due to a number of factors including the cost of treatment, various side effects, and significant weight regain following withdrawal from the drug.  Given what we view as solid underlying fundamentals and an over reaction to GLP-1, we added to our RMD holdings on the weakness during the month.

Other detractors during the month included Credit Corp, despite solid momentum in the US and domestic Consumer Lending, which continues to experience subdued growth in the core domestic debt ledger business, and Telstra where solid underlying performance from the key mobile division was offset by disappointment from management’s decision not to monetise the recently separated infrastructure arm of the business.  We believe Telstra management presented a sound argument to retain 100% ownership, however, recognise a subset of the investor base that was invested for that event alone transitioning its way out of the register.  With the core elements of our investment thesis validated, we remain positive and have more recently added to our position at these more attractive levels.

The key message that we took away from this corporate earnings season was that whilst the outlook for corporate revenues is likely more resilient than first thought (think soft landing as opposed to cliff), ongoing inflation continues to provide upward pressure on the cost of doing business, particularly around wage inflation.  The result is a likely continuation of domestic inflation above the target range, in turn providing limited scope for interest rate cuts for the foreseeable future.  We continue to position the portfolio with this in mind, ensuring exposure to business models with pricing power and low levels of price elasticity (to combat inflation) as well as those who benefit from an elevated rate environment.  From a valuation perspective, this environment typically favours portfolios whose valuation is predominately focused on current earnings and cash flows (such as this Fund), as opposed to those whose valuation is more dependent on future earnings and cash flows.  Our cash balance remains healthy and ready to deploy should future opportunities present.

We remain as focused as ever on our primary objectives of capital preservation and generating a reasonable real return for our investors.  We continue to believe this is best served by a disciplined approach and consistent investment methodology. A variety of good businesses run by honest and competent management teams at the right price will create a well-diversified portfolio of ever-growing cash earnings streams.

PERFORMANCE TABLE

FUND PERFORMANCE (A$, NET OF FEES)
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)
Year Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun FUND FYTD RBA CASH RATE FYTD ASX ALL ORDS FYTD
2023/2024 3.3%-0.7%9.5%3.1%13.8%
2022/2023 6.4%-0.1%-6.1%2.7%3%-2.3%6.1%-1.2%0%2.7%-2.3%1.2%10%2.9%14.8%
2021/2022 0.3%3%-0.4%-1.1%-0.6%1%-6.7%1.3%1.9%-0.6%-3%-7%-12%0.2%-7.4%
2020/2021 1.5%2%-2%1.5%10.2%2.3%-0.9%0.3%3.1%3.6%2.6%1.1%27.7%0.2%30.2%
2019/2020 3.2%0.6%1.4%-0.5%3.5%-3.3%2.3%-3.5%-19.5%8.5%6.2%0.1%-3.9%0.7%-7.2%
2018/2019 1.3%3.4%-2.5%-8%-1.6%-2%2.4%3.4%-1.1%2.9%4.9%1.2%3.6%1.5%11%
2017/2018 0.6%1%0.1%1.9%3.2%0.1%1.5%-1.3%-3%-0%2.5%1.5%8.1%1.5%13.7%
2016/2017 6.1%2.3%0.3%-3%-0.3%3.4%-0.8%0.7%1.8%1.7%-4.7%2.7%10.2%1.5%13.1%
2015/2016 3.3%-4.2%-0.6%4.1%3.4%0.2%-1.8%-3.2%3.1%0.7%4.6%-1.6%7.7%2%2%
2014/2015 1.9%1.5%-2.4%2.5%0%1.4%2.6%4%1.3%-1.7%1.1%-3.5%8.9%2.4%5.7%
2013/2014 2%2.3%1.4%2.3%-1.2%1.3%-2%1.4%-0.4%1.2%1.5%-1%9.1%2.5%17.6%
2012/2013 2.9%2.5%0.2%2.4%2.8%1.8%5.2%4.4%0%3.5%-1.3%-2.5%24%3.1%20.7%
2011/2012 -3.1%1.4%-2.4%4.7%-2.4%1%2.9%3.6%4.2%0.7%-1.1%-1.1%8.3%4.4%-7%
2010/2011 5.1%1.1%3.6%1.8%-0.1%3%0.7%1.5%1%0%-0.8%-0.5%17.4%4.7%12.2%
2009/2010 3.5%6.1%3.8%1.2%1%2.5%-3.6%1.1%3.6%-0.2%-4%-2.5%12.5%3.7%13.8%
2008/2009 -1%3.5%-4.7%-9%-5.3%3.9%0.2%-1.4%7.9%4.4%2.1%3.8%3%4.8%-22.1%

2023/2024

Jul 3.3%
Aug -0.7%
Sep -3.7%
Oct -3.3%
Nov 3.9%
Dec 5.1%
Jan 2.4%
Feb -0.7%
Mar 3.2%

2022/2023

Jul 6.4%
Aug -0.1%
Sep -6.1%
Oct 2.7%
Nov 3%
Dec -2.3%
Jan 6.1%
Feb -1.2%
Mar 0%
Apr 2.7%
May -2.3%
Jun 1.2%
FUND FYTD 10%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 2.9%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 14.8%

2021/2022

Jul 0.3%
Aug 3%
Sep -0.4%
Oct -1.1%
Nov -0.6%
Dec 1%
Jan -6.7%
Feb 1.3%
Mar 1.9%
Apr -0.6%
May -3%
Jun -7%
FUND FYTD -12%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 0.2%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD -7.4%

2020/2021

Jul 1.5%
Sep -2%
Oct 1.5%
Nov 10.2%
Dec 2.3%
Jan -0.9%
Feb 0.3%
Mar 3.1%
Apr 3.6%
May 2.6%
Aug 2%
Jun 1.1%
FUND FYTD 27.7%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 0.2%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 30.2%

2019/2020

Jul 3.2%
Aug 0.6%
Sep 1.4%
Oct -0.5%
Nov 3.5%
Dec -3.3%
Jan 2.3%
Feb -3.5%
Apr 8.5%
Mar -19.5%
May 6.2%
Jun 0.1%
FUND FYTD -3.9%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 0.7%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD -7.2%

2018/2019

Jul 1.3%
Aug 3.4%
Sep -2.5%
Oct -8%
Nov -1.6%
Dec -2%
Jan 2.4%
Feb 3.4%
Mar -1.1%
Apr 2.9%
May 4.9%
Jun 1.2%
FUND FYTD 3.6%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 1.5%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 11%

2017/2018

Jul 0.6%
Aug 1%
Sep 0.1%
Oct 1.9%
Nov 3.2%
Dec 0.1%
Jan 1.5%
Feb -1.3%
Mar -3%
Apr -0%
May 2.5%
Jun 1.5%
FUND FYTD 8.1%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 1.5%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 13.7%

2016/2017

Jul 6.1%
Aug 2.3%
Sep 0.3%
Oct -3%
Nov -0.3%
Dec 3.4%
Jan -0.8%
Feb 0.7%
Mar 1.8%
Apr 1.7%
May -4.7%
Jun 2.7%
FUND FYTD 10.2%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 1.5%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 13.1%

2015/2016

Jul 3.3%
Aug -4.2%
Sep -0.6%
Oct 4.1%
Nov 3.4%
Dec 0.2%
Jan -1.8%
Feb -3.2%
Mar 3.1%
Apr 0.7%
May 4.6%
Jun -1.6%
FUND FYTD 7.7%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 2%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 2%

2014/2015

Jul 1.9%
Aug 1.5%
Sep -2.4%
Oct 2.5%
Nov 0%
Dec 1.4%
Jan 2.6%
Feb 4%
Mar 1.3%
Apr -1.7%
May 1.1%
Jun -3.5%
FUND FYTD 8.9%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 2.4%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 5.7%

2013/2014

Jul 2%
Aug 2.3%
Sep 1.4%
Oct 2.3%
Nov -1.2%
Dec 1.3%
Jan -2%
Feb 1.4%
Mar -0.4%
Apr 1.2%
May 1.5%
Jun -1%
FUND FYTD 9.1%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 2.5%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 17.6%

2012/2013

Jul 2.9%
Aug 2.5%
Sep 0.2%
Oct 2.4%
Nov 2.8%
Dec 1.8%
Jan 5.2%
Feb 4.4%
Mar 0%
Apr 3.5%
May -1.3%
Jun -2.5%
FUND FYTD 24%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 3.1%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 20.7%

2011/2012

Jul -3.1%
Aug 1.4%
Sep -2.4%
Oct 4.7%
Nov -2.4%
Dec 1%
Jan 2.9%
Feb 3.6%
Mar 4.2%
Apr 0.7%
May -1.1%
Jun -1.1%
FUND FYTD 8.3%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 4.4%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD -7%

2010/2011

Jul 5.1%
Aug 1.1%
Sep 3.6%
Oct 1.8%
Nov -0.1%
Dec 3%
Jan 0.7%
Feb 1.5%
Mar 1%
Apr 0%
May -0.8%
Jun -0.5%
FUND FYTD 17.4%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 4.7%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 12.2%

2009/2010

Jul 3.5%
Aug 6.1%
Sep 3.8%
Oct 1.2%
Nov 1%
Dec 2.5%
Jan -3.6%
Feb 1.1%
Mar 3.6%
Apr -0.2%
May -4%
Jun -2.5%
FUND FYTD 12.5%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 3.7%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD 13.8%

2008/2009

Jul -1%
Aug 3.5%
Sep -4.7%
Oct -9%
Nov -5.3%
Dec 3.9%
Jan 0.2%
Feb -1.4%
Mar 7.9%
Apr 4.4%
May 2.1%
Jun 3.8%
FUND FYTD 3%
RBA CASH RATE FYTD 4.8%
ASX ALL ORDS FYTD -22.1%

PROFILE

Platform Availability

  • AMP MyNorth
  • Asgard Element (Masterfund)
  • Asgard – E Wrap, Master Trust, Infinity
  • AET Wholesale Access Fund
  • BT Panorama
  • BT Wrap
  • Colonial First Choice
  • Centric IDPS
  • First Wrap
  • FNZ
  • HUB24
  • IOOF Pursuit
  • IOOF
  • Macquarie Wrap
  • MLC Wrap
  • Mason Stevens
  • Navigator
  • Netwealth
  • OneVue
  • Omniport(lifespan)
  • Powerwrap
  • Praemium
  • uXchange

STATISTICAL DATA

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY
VOLATILITY3
11.4%
NUMBER OF STOCKS
24
BETA4
0.63
MAXIMUM DRAW DOWN
-23.1%

FEATURES

  • APIR CODE PCL0005AU
  • REDEMPTION PRICEA$ 1.7746
  • FEES * Management Fee: 1.025%
    Performance Fee: 10.25%
  • Minimum initial investment A$10,000
  • FUM AT MONTH END A$ 661.4m
  • STRATEGY INCEPTION DATE 1 July 2008
  • BenchmarkThe RBA Cash Rate Target plus Australian equity risk premium.

Fund Managers

Rhett Kessler

CIO and Senior Fund Manager

Anton du Preez

Deputy CIO and Fund Manager

Description

The Pengana Australian Equities Fund aims to enhance and preserve investor wealth over a 5- year period via a concentrated core portfolio of principally Australian listed securities. The Fund uses fundamental research to evaluate investments capable of generating the target return over the medium term. Essentially, we are in the business of seeking to preserve capital and make money – we are not in the business of trying to beat the market. We remain focused on acquiring and holding investments that offer predictable, sustainable and well-stewarded after-tax cash earnings yields in excess of 6% that will grow to double digit levels as a percentage of our original entry price in five years. We believe that building a well-diversified portfolio of these “gifts that keep on giving” represents a meaningful way to create and preserve financial independence for our co-investors.

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

1. Net performance figures are shown after all fees and expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. The benchmark of cash rate plus 6% p.a. is included in the chart as it relates to the Fund’s investment objective and performance fee.  The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in equity securities.  The greater risk of investing in equities is reflected in the addition of a margin above the cash rate. No allowance has been made for buy/sell spreads. 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 1st July 2008.
3. Annualised standard deviation since inception.
4. Relative to ASX All Ordinaries Index. Using daily returns.
*(including GST, net of RITC) of the increase in net asset value subject to the RBA Cash Rate & High Water Mark. For further information regarding fees please see the PDS available on our website.