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Printed: 03 July 2024 11:26 PM

News

13 Jan 2021 - Performance Report: Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund

By: Australian Fund Monitors

Report Date13 January 2021
ManagerBennelong Long Short Equity Management, a Bennelong boutique
Fund NameBennelong Long Short Equity Fund
StrategyEquity Market Neutral
Latest Return DateDecember 2020
Latest Return-3.08%
Latest 6 Months2.80%
Latest 12 Months11.66%
Latest 24 Months (pa)13.40%
Annualised Since Inception15.34%
Inception Date01 January 2003
FUM (millions)AU$376.6
Fund OverviewBennelong Long Short Equity Management applies a qualitative stock selection process to construct a diversified portfolio of paired securities based on relative value. The Bennelong Long Short Equity Management strategy invests primarily in the S&P/ASX 100 and is dollar neutral at cost.

In a typical environment the Fund will hold around 70 stocks comprising 35 pairs. Each pair contains one long and one short position each of which will have been thoroughly researched and are selected from the same market sector. Whilst in an ideal environment each stock's position will make a positive return, it is the relative performance of the pair that is important.

As a result the Fund can make positive returns when each stock moves in the same direction provided the long position outperforms the short one in relative terms. However, if neither side of the trade is profitable, strict controls are required to ensure losses are limited.

The Fund uses no derivatives and has no currency exposure. The Fund has no hard stop loss limits, instead relying on the small average position size per stock (1.5%) and per pair (3%) to limit exposure. Where practical pairs are always held within the same sector to limit cross sector risk, and positions can be held for months or years.

The Bennelong Market Neutral Fund, with same strategy and liquidity is available for retail investors as a Listed Investment Company (LIC) on the ASX.
Manager CommentsThe Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund rose +11.66% over CY20 vs the ASX200 Accumulation Index's +1.40%. Since inception in February 2002, the Fund has returned +15.34% p.a. vs the Index's +7.97%. The following statistics (since inception) highlight the Fund's capacity to significantly outperform in falling and volatile markets: Sortino ratio of 1.55 vs the Index's 0.41, maximum drawdown of -17.73% vs the Index's -47.19%, and down-capture ratio of -162%. The Fund's down-capture ratio indicates that, on average, the Fund has risen during the market's negative months.

The Fund returned -3.08% in December as the Australian equity market experienced a rally in cyclicals and laggards. The outperformance of the Fund's long portfolio by some of the cyclicals and laggards in the short portfolio contributed to the Fund's weaker finish for the year.

Top pairs for the month included long Xero / short TechnologyOne, and long Mineral Resources / short BHP. Bottom pairs included long BlueScope Steel / short Sims (SGM), and long Woolworths / short Metcash/Treasury Wine.
More Information

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