Our approach
Watch this three-minute video to hear David Cumming, Chief Investment Officer, Equities, explain the benefits of being active investors without style constraint in today's climate. He also describes how we integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in to our investment approach and what he believes makes us different.
Active, fundamental and responsible
Our integrated and disciplined investment process provides the framework and confidence for portfolios to have high active shares. We use our access to company management to gain an information advantage, driving non-consensus views. In contrast to ETF and passive investors, we direct our resource towards fundamental analysis and being on the right side of change.
ESG is a core, integrated input into our investment process. We actively assess individual company ESG performance and risk factors. In conjunction with our Global Responsible Investment (GRI) team we continually engage with companies to promote positive change and monitor the long-term value of our investments.
Benefits
Our investment advantage.
Connected thinking
A common investment language embedded across all regions and sectors facilitates the delivery of sharp and effective connected thinking. Enhanced by direct company contact and integrated information flows from GRI, macro, multi-asset, credit teams, our process ensures all relevant investment information is surfaced when making each stock selection decision.
Key risks
The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up and can fluctuate in response to changes in currency and exchange rates. Investors may not get back the original amount invested.
A globally integrated team with extensive experience
David Cumming
Chief Investment Officer, Equities and Head of UK Equities
View profile
Mikhail Zverev
Head of Global Equities
View profile
Susan Schmidt
Head of US Equities
View profile
Frédéric Tassin
Head of Pan-European Equities
View profile
Francois de Bruin
Fund Manager, Sustainable Income & Growth and Head of Listed Real Estate
View profile
Alistair Way
Head of Global Emerging Market Equities
View profile
Need more information?
For further information, please contact our investment sales team.
Equities views
Pricing power is the magic ingredient for equity investors
27 Nov 2020
Evidence that a company wields pricing power in its industry is the best indication of a sustainable competitive advantage, argues Giles Parkinson.
Read more
Once bitten, twice shy: Is there value in tech by avoiding the FAANGs?
30 Oct 2020
The gravity-defying rally in technology shares has led some commentators to draw comparisons with the dot.com bubble of the late 1990s. However, Mikhail Zverev and Alistair Way believe there are still opportunities to be found in some of the sector’s less-fashionable stocks.
Read more
US Election 2020: Expect the unexpected
29 Oct 2020
As the US presidential election looms, we explore potential scenarios – from a Democratic “blue sweep” to a Trump re-election to a divided government – and assess the implications for investors.
Read more
Turn and face the change: How to invest dynamically in an uncertain world
21 Oct 2020
Equity markets are slow to price in the implications of change. This creates opportunities for dynamic, style-agnostic investors to take advantage, argue Caroline Galligan and David Cumming.
Read more
Don’t feed the troll: Social media companies face reckoning over hate speech
28 Sep 2020
Facebook, Twitter and other platforms are drawing criticism for their failure to tackle hate content. But will the hit to their reputation do any lasting commercial damage?
Read more
Investing in the gut: Fixing the bacterial bugs in our microbiome
21 Sep 2020
COVID-19 has intensified interest in the human microbiome, as researchers contemplate whether bacteria living in the gut might affect susceptibility to infection. Drawing on our experience in public markets and Ahren Innovation Capital’s knowledge of private markets, we look at the companies making strides in live biotherapeutics, using ‘bugs as drugs’, and key challenges that need to be overcome.
Read more
Why limit yourself? The benefits of style-agnostic investing
16 Sep 2020
Investors wanting to consistently exploit market inefficiencies should leave style biases behind, argues Mikhail Zverev.
Read more
Out with the old: Why income investors must be on the right side of change
2 Sep 2020
It has been a difficult year for income investing, as many companies have announced cuts or suspensions to dividends. But there are opportunities for investors willing to do some digging to find resilient businesses, says Richard Saldanha.
Read more
The clockmaker and the longitude problem: A lesson for investors in bottom-up problem solving
25 Aug 2020
Bottom-up thinking is not a typical hallmark of multi-asset investing. However, Francois de Bruin believes the granularity that comes from this approach offers useful diversification and risk benefits.
Read more
The new rules of client engagement
18 Aug 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic reshapes our working lives, asset managers must find new ways to interact with their clients, says Apiramy Jeyarajah.
Read more
Electric avenue: EVs and the transformation of autos
13 Aug 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from our infrastructure, credit research and equity teams discuss why efforts to ‘build back better’ as economies recover from COVID-19 could further accelerate investment in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Read more
Chinese equities: A rally of substance?
12 Aug 2020
Chinese equities have risen sharply in recent weeks, mirroring trends in global markets. While some commentators have warned efforts by Beijing to juice share prices are inflating an unsustainable bubble, Alistair Way and Xiaoyu Liu argue valuations are far from excessive.
Read more
As earnings season unfolds, equity investors must focus on the bigger picture
10 Aug 2020
Investors are poring over grim corporate earnings reports, but it is crucial to look beyond quarterly figures to assess long-term value, says Giles Parkinson.
Read more
Education, entrepreneurship and biological age: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
In part two of our interview with Professor Andrew Scott from London Business School, we look at how policy will shift to take account of people living for longer and how service providers will respond.
Read more
Longevity, policy and technology: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
Living longer brings enormous opportunities to reshape how we spend our time. But in the first of a two-part interview, Andrew Scott from London Business School explains how advances in longevity and technology have not been matched by innovation in social structures or our approach to financial planning.
Read more
Trial and error: The value of learning from mistakes
21 Jul 2020
A common characteristic of successful people and organisations is an ability to recognise and quickly learn from their mistakes. UK Equity Income Fund Manager Chris Murphy shares the lessons he has learned from an eventful career.
Read more