Carmignac Portfolio Family Governed: Letter from the Fund Manager
During the third quarter of 2023, the return of Carmignac Portfolio Family Governed (A share class) was +0.45%, whilst its reference indicator fell -0.46% during this period. The fund posted a performance of +12.99% year to date, compared to +10.94% for its reference indicator.
Quarterly Performance Review
The third quarter was a period dominated by rising bond yields and generally hawkish commentary from the US Federal Reserve outlining the need for policy interest rates to remain high throughout 2024, longer than previously anticipated, owing to a stronger domestic US economy and labour market. This created downward pressure on relatively highly rated stocks in the technology and consumer staple sectors, as well as heightened concern for highly indebted companies such as those in the utility and real estate sectors. In aggregate we are under exposed to these areas, which was supportive. On the negative side the best performing sector was the energy sector, where we have no exposure, which rose 14% in tandem with the commodity price.
The fund performance was also influenced heavily by large and divergent stock price performances. One of the better performing global sectors was the financial sector rising 2.5%. Ordinarily this would create a problem for us, as we typically avoid the large banks and insurance companies. However, our specific names served us well.
On the negative side, many of our consumer names were weak, including luxury goods maker LVMH, fell 18% on fears of slowing growth especially in their Fashion and Leather division, where expectations of continued mid teen growth into Q3 looked a little optimistic.
How is the fund positioned?
We remain cautiously positioned with 93% of the portfolio invested in stocks and allowing us for a cash buffer to take advantage of opportunities in due time. From a cyclical standpoint, 74% of the portfolio is in less cyclical names as we have derisked our portfolio over the last couple of quarters. Our focus remains in Healthcare, Industrials and Staples which represent 45%, 14% and 11% respectively.
Nevertheless, among sectors in which we have a smaller exposure, we have seen pockets of strong performance. For example, Partners Group, the private equity company led the way, rising 23%, and was one of our better names in the period. They demonstrated better than expected profitability with their first half results, including a strong contribution from performance fees despite a tough market environment. Furthermore, their commentary implied an improving environment with high confidence on meeting existing guidance for new asset growth of $17-22bn, as well as increasing contribution from future performance fees underpinning future profitability. Our other financial holdings, US insurance broker Brown & brown, and Mastercard also delivered solid results and saw their stocks rise 5% and 4% respectively.
Within healthcare, the diabetes and obesity theme continued to be a performance driver. The leading providers of GLP-1 drugs to treat diabetes and obesity, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly, rose 20% and 18%, as the momentum in these therapeutic areas remained extremely strong, as we have remarked on at length in previous quarterly reports. Despite their strong stock performances in 2023 we believe this momentum will continue for many years to come and maintain holding sizes in each of around 8% in each. Among other healthcare names that performed well over the quarter, Chinese company Wuxi Biologics, the contract manufacturer of drugs for the pharmaceutical industry, rose 26%. Having previously guided to only low teen revenue growth for the period, they in fact delivered 18%. In addition, new projects signed were a little better than expected with 46 signed bringing the total to 621 across all stages of clinical development and including 22 new manufacturing contracts – better than expected. Furthermore, the company confirmed medium term guidance and said they expect the biologics contract manufacturing market to grow above 10% compounded per annum until 2030 at least. The stock had been weak mainly due to negative Chinese sentiment and concerns on pricing pressure, but management reassured that they do not compete on price, consistent with our thesis. Overall, the market was relieved, resulting in the strong recovery. We maintain the name in our top 10 holdings as the stock is far from adequately reflecting the 20-30% profit growth we expect.
Among our Consumer names, Estee Lauder the Cosmetics leader suffered from a series of worse than expected dynamics including weaker Asian travel-related demand, inventory reductions, weaker Chinese economy, and specific distribution issues. However, we expect sequential improvement and a mid-teens sales growth level as conditions normalise. Consequently, we maintain our holding, although only at a 1% sizing, with a view to increasing post further evidence of the expected sequential improvement.
What is our outlook for the coming months?
While volatility persists, we remain cautious in such periods and maintain our long-term investment process. We invest in fundamentally high-quality companies which also have a significant family or founder shareholder to guide the company and enable long-term strategic decisions. Detailed corporate governance analysis is essential to identify the most beneficial names among this group. To navigate through this time of uncertainty we have reduced weaker names such as Estee Lauder and Fortinet and added to our less cyclical names such as L’Oreal, Cintas and Coca Cola Consolidated.
Carmignac Portfolio Family Governed
A global, high-conviction equity fund that invests in family companiesDiscover the fund pageCarmignac Portfolio Family Governed A EUR Acc
- Recommended minimum investment horizon
- 5 years
- Risk indicator*
- 4/7
- SFDR - Fund Classification**
- Article 8
*Risk Scale from the KID (Key Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time. **The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) 2019/2088 is a European regulation that requires asset managers to classify their funds as either 'Article 8' funds, which promote environmental and social characteristics, 'Article 9' funds, which make sustainable investments with measurable objectives, or 'Article 6' funds, which do not necessarily have a sustainability objective. For more information please refer to https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/2088/oj.
Main risks of the fund
Fees
- Entry costs
- 4,00% of the amount you pay in when entering this investment. This is the most you will be charged. Carmignac Gestion doesn't charge any entry fee. The person selling you the product will inform you of the actual charge.
- Exit costs
- We do not charge an exit fee for this product.
- Management fees and other administrative or operating costs
- 1,80% of the value of your investment per year. This estimate is based on actual costs over the past year.
- Performance fees
- 20,00% when the share class overperforms the Reference indicator during the performance period. It will be payable also in case the share class has overperformed the reference indicator but had a negative performance. Underperformance is clawed back for 5 years. The actual amount will vary depending on how well your investment performs. The aggregated cost estimation above includes the average over the last 5 years, or since the product creation if it is less than 5 years.
- Transaction Cost
- 0,20% of the value of your investment per year. This is an estimate of the costs incurred when we buy and sell the investments underlying the product. The actual amount varies depending on the quantity we buy and sell.
Annualised Performance
| Carmignac Portfolio Family Governed | 11.2 | 16.0 | 27.0 | -18.6 | 20.7 |
| Reference Indicator | 15.2 | 6.7 | 27.5 | -13.0 | 18.1 |
| Carmignac Portfolio Family Governed | + 26.5 % | + 9.3 % | + 12.7 % |
| Reference Indicator | + 23.9 % | + 10.0 % | + 12.7 % |
Source: Carmignac at 28 Mar 2024.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor).
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Marketing communication. Please refer to the KID/KIID, prospectus of the fund before making any final investment decisions. This document is intended for professional clients.
This material may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior authorisation from the Management Company. This material does not constitute a subscription offer, nor does it constitute investment advice. This material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. This material has been provided to you for informational purposes only and may not be relied upon by you in evaluating the merits of investing in any securities or interests referred to herein or for any other purposes. The information contained in this material may be partial information and may be modified without prior notice. They are expressed as of the date of writing and are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources deemed by Carmignac to be reliable, are not necessarily all-inclusive and are not guaranteed as to accuracy. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by Carmignac, its officers, employees or agents.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor). The return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations, for the shares which are not currency-hedged.
Reference to certain securities and financial instruments is for illustrative purposes to highlight stocks that are or have been included in the portfolios of funds in the Carmignac range. This is not intended to promote direct investment in those instruments, nor does it constitute investment advice. The Management Company is not subject to prohibition on trading in these instruments prior to issuing any communication. The portfolios of Carmignac funds may change without previous notice. The reference to a ranking or prize, is no guarantee of the future results of the UCIS or the manager.
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The Funds’ prospectus, KIDs, NAVs and annual reports are available at www.carmignac.com, or upon request to the Management Carmignac Portfolio refers to the sub-funds of Carmignac Portfolio SICAV, an investment company under Luxembourg law, conforming to the UCITS Directive. The French investment funds (fonds communs de placement or FCP) are common funds in contractual form conforming to the UCITS or AIFM Directive under French law.
In France, Luxembourg, Sweden: The risks, fees and ongoing charges are described in the KID (Key Information Document). The KID must be made available to the subscriber prior to subscription. The subscriber must read the KID. Investors may lose some or all their capital, as the capital in the funds are not guaranteed. The Funds present a risk of loss of capital. The Funds’ prospectus, KIDs, NAV and annual reports are available at www.carmignac.com, or upon request to the Management.
In the United Kingdom: the Funds’ respective prospectuses, KIIDs and annual reports are available at www.carmignac.co.uk, or upon request to the Management Company, or for the French Funds, at the offices of the Facilities Agent at BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES SERVICES, operating through its branch in London: 55 Moorgate, London EC2R. This document was prepared by Carmignac Gestion, Carmignac Gestion Luxembourg or Carmignac UK Ltd. FP Carmignac ICVC (the “Company”) is an Investment Company with variable capital incorporated in England and Wales under registered number 839620 and is authorised by the FCA with effect from 4 April 2019 and launched on 15 May 2019. FundRock Partners Limited is the Authorised Corporate Director (the “ACD”) of the Company and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Registered Office: Hamilton Centre, Rodney Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3BY, UK; Registered in England and Wales with number 4162989. Carmignac Gestion Luxembourg SA has been appointed as the Investment Manager and distributor in respect of the Company. Carmignac UK Ltd (Registered in England and Wales with number 14162894) has been appointed as a sub-Investment Manager of the Company and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with FRN:984288.
In Switzerland: the prospectus, KIDs and annual report are available at www.carmignac.ch, or through our representative in Switzerland, CACEIS (Switzerland), S.A., Route de Signy 35, CH-1260 Nyon. The paying agent is CACEIS Bank, Montrouge, Nyon Branch / Switzerland, Route de Signy 35, 1260 Nyon.
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