NEWS
6 Oct 2023 - Is Tesla just another car company?
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Is Tesla just another car company? Montgomery Investment Management September 2023 In the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive industry, few companies have captured the world's attention quite like Tesla. Thirteen years ago, electric cars were synonymous with virtue signalling rather than high-performance excitement. However, Tesla disrupted this perception, transforming electric vehicles into something thrilling and aspirational. Its journey, from a modest initial public offering (IPO) in 2010 to a valuation exceeding $1 trillion in 2019, has been nothing short of remarkable. Yet, recent stagnation in Tesla's stock price has prompted a critical question: Is Tesla still the visionary pioneer it once was, or is it merely becoming "just another car company"? A background to Tesla Thirteen years ago, in 2012, hybrid electric cars were unsexy and uninspiring. Think of the Toyota Prius here in Australia, or the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf in the U.S. These were virtue-signaling vehicles designed without mass appeal in mind. Manufacturers also had a vested interest in their legacy internal combustion engine (ICE) models and weren't tooled up for mass adoption of electric vehicles (EV). Tesla changed all that, first delivering exciting luxury cars that also happened to be fast and battery-powered, before widening the appeal by launching more affordable models that were also powerful and equally good-looking. Around thirteen years ago, a small company called Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) launched its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock exchange, raising a total of U.S.$226.1 million at a (split adjusted) share price of U.S.$3.40. Three years later, in 2013/14, Tesla transitioned from being essentially a start-up with highly uncertain survival prospects to being a credible auto business, redefining public expectations around electric vehicles with its introduction of the Model S, and in 2013, generating its first quarterly profit. Excitement in the stock market for Tesla, however, was arguably greater. Between 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2014, consensus full-year earnings forecasts for Tesla were revised up sharply, with 2015 net income forecasts moving from U.S.$247 million to U.S.$432 million and 2016 net income forecasts moving from U.S.$415 million to U.S.$784 million. The less-than-doubling of earnings expectations however, resulted in a 10-fold increase in the share price as the discount associated with doubts about the company's survival unwound. Tesla's profits fell well short of those forecasts, with the company reporting a net loss in 2015 of U.S.$889 million and another net loss in 2016 of U.S.$773 million. Yet the market's excitement didn't wane. The share price gains didn't continue, but the price gains didn't reverse either. Profitable hopes were simply deferred. At the start of 2015, Tesla commanded a market valuation of close to U.S.$30 billion, well short of the value ascribed to the world's largest automakers, but still around half that of Ford and General Motors. It wasn't until 2019 that the fortunes of Tesla started to take off, with its shares jumping from U.S.$12.65 in May 2019 to a split-adjusted U.S.$409.97 on November 04, 2021, and a market capitalisation of over U.S.$1 trillion. In mid-2020, Tesla achieved four consecutive quarters of positive net income for the first time in its history, and over the prior 12 months consensus net income forecasts for Tesla increased substantially. The 2021 forecast increased to U.S.$3.15 billion from U.S.$1.72 billion, and the 2022 number rose to $5.03 billion from $3.44 billion. This less-than-doubling of earnings forecasts had driven another 10x share price move. Tesla today Today, however, the share price is roughly where it was almost three years ago. If the gas has been let out (pun intended) of the share price's ascent, it begs a question: what if Tesla is just another car company? Tesla is still the market leader in battery-powered electric car sales in the U.S., with a market share of above 60 per cent, and the company's flagship Model 3 is the best-selling EV model in the U.S.. Meanwhile, Tesla's market capitalisation today of U.S.$777 billion is more than the combined market capitalisation of the next eight biggest manufacturers, including (in descending order) Toyota, Porsche, BYD, Mercedes Benz, VinFast Auto, BMW, Volkswagen, and Ferrari. Not unlike Apple, Tesla has adopted a closed-ecosystem approach to its products, owning the cars, the servicing, and the charging directly, setting it apart from other manufacturers. But does this deserve the hefty multiple placed on the company's earnings that renders it as valuable as the world's next eight biggest manufacturers? Investors can buy Toyota for $22,000 per vehicle sold in 2022, BMW for $27,825, BYD for $53,800 per vehicle sold, or they can buy Tesla for nearly U.S.$591,000 per vehicle sold. The economics between Tesla and every other car manufacturer in the world, in the long run, might be slightly different. Still, they cannot be sufficiently dissimilar to justify such a disparity in either absolute market capitalisation terms or in relative terms. Despite a share price today that is 40 per cent below its all-time high, enthusiasm for the world-changing potential of EV technology has clearly translated to an equally transformative approach to stock market valuation for Tesla. What investors are forgetting, however is that Tesla will ultimately be a car company. As competitors catch up, the competitive advantage of Tesla will erode. Meanwhile, any differences in the economics of car manufacturing between Tesla and its rivals will also diminish as more of each brand's fleet moves to electric. In time it will be harder to justify such a disparity between Telsa's market valuation and that of its competitors. Ten reasons why the differences will narrow Increased competition: As we have written about many times, an increasing number of automobile manufacturers, including traditional giants and EV startups, are producing electric vehicles that compete directly with Tesla's lineup. Brands like Ford, Rivian, Lucid, and Chevrolet have rolled out new electric models that, in some cases, outperform Tesla in terms of range, performance, and looks (the latter being subjective of course). And while the market for EVs overall is growing, Tesla's dominance in EV market share in the U.S. has already slipped from 72 per cent to 62 per cent in just the first year of rising competition and brand choice. Meanwhile analysts believe Telsa's market share could fall to as little as 18 per cent by 2026 from 78 per cent in 2018. Ageing product line: Tesla first new passenger vehicle model in three years is the just released updated Model 3. This 'stagnation' in model releases provides competitors with an opportunity to entice potential Tesla customers with newer and potentially more advanced options resulting in Tesla losing further share. Struggles in key markets: China, the world's largest auto market, has been a significant growth engine for Tesla. However, the company has experienced a softening in demand in China. Local competitors, of which BYD Co. is the largest by no means alone, are making significant strides, offering a more diversified range of models that cater to various price points. Critics in China suggest Tesla does not fully understand the preferences of Chinese consumers. Marketing and branding issues: Tesla's decision to offer discounts to boost sales is a departure from its earlier stance, indicating potential demand challenges and lower margins. Furthermore, Elon Musk's controversial takeover of Twitter Inc. has affected Tesla's brand perception, pushing some potential buyers away. Distracted Elon Musk: Many shareholders are concerned that Elon Musk, the driving force behind Tesla, has been distracted with his acquisition and management of Twitter, now called X. Such diversions annoy analysts who believe they could impact Tesla's strategic directions and operational efficiency. Share price malaise: Tesla's share price is unchanged from almost three years ago, suggesting investors are acknowledging the challenges Tesla faces and waking up to the reality of the long-term economics of manufacturing cars. Inability to meet growth targets: Despite aggressive scaling efforts, Tesla is falling short of its annual growth targets. With a 40 per cent annual growth rate in 2022 compared to 87 per cent in 2021, the company's exponential growth might be plateauing if Elon Musk's target of two million vehicles in 2023 is not met. Shifting strategies: Elon Musk's statement back in July 2021 that the "goal is not to be a car company" suggests a broader and potentially more diffuse focus and remains a reminder for analysts who focus too closely on the company's position and growth in the automobile industry. Over-reliance on existing models: Rather than diversifying its lineup, Tesla is focused on scaling up and churning out as many of its existing models as possible. This strategy is at odds with conventional (and capex intensive) wisdom that releases new models almost annually. The traditional auto industry belief is car makers need to offer a wide range of updated and more advanced models to keep buyers interested and part of their brand 'family'. Valuation metrics: At September 2023 Tesla is trading at 63.1 times trailing twelve-month (TTM) earnings. This compares to 120 times at the end of 2021. At either measure the price-earnings (PE) is a market valuation more typical of high-growth tech companies than a car manufacturer. Conclusion If Tesla does indeed become 'just a car company', the sharp drop in PE will continue and reflect a growing realisation in Tesla's growth prospects, its position in the auto industry, and its economics are less exciting than once believed. Tesla remains a global leader in the EV market with strong fundamentals, however, there are clear signs that it faces increasing challenges from competitors, potential demand issues, and market sentiment shifts. The lofty valuations and hype surrounding the company needs to be re-evaluated considering these inescapable realities. Author: Roger Montgomery Funds operated by this manager: Montgomery (Private) Fund, Montgomery Small Companies Fund, The Montgomery Fund |
5 Oct 2023 - The hidden value in securitisation warehouses
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The hidden value in securitisation warehouses Challenger Investment Management September 2023 Early in my career I was introduced to the adage, "you get paid for brain damage". Despite its crudeness, the expression has proved accurate. Put another way, if you are willing to make the effort to understand and mitigate complexity, you can often get paid outsized returns for doing so. In the years following the global financial crisis, securitisation markets were viewed as overly complex. Regulatory bodies disincentivised pension funds, banks and insurers from investing in these markets outside of the most risk remote tranches. Investors that were willing to finance mezzanine tranches of securitisation issuance were rewarded handsomely for it. Fast forward to today and while markets have normalised to a degree the structural opportunity remains. However sophisticated investors have recognised that the real opportunity lies in the manufacturing of new securitisation bonds in private markets, so called warehousing or pre-securitisation finance. As a reminder a securitisation pools a group of loans/receivables into a pool which are then tranched into bonds of different risk and return profiles. A warehouse is a securitisation that allows a lender to accumulate a sufficient volume of receivables to then issue into the public market.
In the warehouse market the senior financier is typically a bank who will also act as the arranger of the public transaction. Prior to the Global Financial Crisis banks were willing to fund close to (and in some cases even more than) 100% of warehouse with the difference comfortably funded by the originator of the loans. There was no need for anyone to bridge the gap between senior bank funding and equity. The post GFC world is immeasurably different. Basel III capital standards impose extremely punitive capital treatment for banks that lend below investment grade ratings, especially where they are not in the senior tranche. For some asset types, the gap between where banks are willing to lend to and where the originator can fund can be 20-30% of the overall pool of collateral. This is the first piece of the value puzzle for securitisation warehouses. Regulations have created a structural gap in warehouse funding markets into which alternative lenders have enteredBut not just anyone can step into a warehouse. As with many private lending transactions execution risk, ongoing management and certainty of capital are critical considerations for a borrower. Alternative credit funds who are active in warehouse lending will typically have well established intercreditor relationships with multiple senior bank financiers and a long track record of efficient execution of transactions through multiple cycles. Scale also matters; an ability to grow the warehouse over time and even provide incremental capital to de-risk senior is also an important consideration for a borrower. Unlike corporate lending markets where even private transactions have some degree of standardisation, warehouses tend to be bespoke to meet the specific needs of the borrower. Having experienced counterparties who are a known quantity can reduce the cost and risk of execution. You may ask why cost and risk of execution are so important in securitisation warehouse transactions. The answer lies at the heart of the second, and in our view most important piece of the value puzzle. Securitisation warehouses are a means to an endSecuritisation originators make their returns by terming out warehouses into public markets at the lowest possible cost of funds. The warehouse allows the originator to get a sizeable enough portfolio that meets the specific needs of the public market securitisation investors, thus lowering the cost of funds. The goal of the warehouse is to get to the public markets as quickly and efficiently as possible. Experienced originators understand that the trade-off for the speed and efficiency in the warehouse is higher returns to the warehouse financiers. For the senior banks, the higher returns come through transaction fees for arranging and distributing the public securitisation. For the alternative credit funds providing the mezzanine finance, the margins in warehouses are generally around 2% per annum higher than the margins in public term transactions of the same implied credit ratings. With cash returning close to 5% across most developed markets, the all-in yield on a warehouse trade is in the low teens for a credit risk profile that often blends to around a BB credit rating. This is a considerable pickup over the high yield bond market which is only yielding around 7% in US dollar markets.
The final piece of the value puzzle relates to risk and is strongly tied to the "means to an end" argument. Because the warehouse is such an integral part of the value creation chain, borrowers have tended to go to great lengths to maintain the performance of their warehouses. This includes putting in additional equity/subordination, buying back non-performing receivables or targeting a lower risk profile with new originations. Subordination levels are also typically set based on a hypothetical 'worst case' pool based on eligibility criteria and portfolio parameters meaning that required subordination levels are higher than what they would be based on the actual pool. While we think there is a strong case for securitisation warehouses being lower risk than public market securitisations, it is important to acknowledge that they can be dangerous in the wrong hands. After all, these are mezzanine tranches where 100 cents in the dollar can be lost if there is a default. Potential investors need to be wary of this and understand the key risks which include:
The securitisation warehouse market is one of the more esoteric parts of a private lending landscape that is rapidly gaining the attention of investors across the globe. The more mainstream parts of the US and European direct lending landscape are now characterised by a group of mega funds increasingly competing with public markets (and each other) to provide multi-billion dollar leveraged buyout debt packages. The next, and in our view most attractive, opportunities in private debt lie in more niche subsectors and geographies which remain off the radar of these mega funds. Funds operated by this manager: Challenger IM Credit Income Fund, Challenger IM Multi-Sector Private Lending Fund |
4 Oct 2023 - China - the re-opening trade that never quite was
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China - the re-opening trade that never quite was 4D Infrastructure September 2023 In this article, we explore why China's re-opening has proven to be more fizzle than fireworks.
So, what went wrong? The data China's economic re-opening initially followed the expected trajectory. However, it sputtered out in the second quarter, and by July, activity numbers looked terrible. Some stabilisation has occurred in the latest August releases, but most key measures are still well below pre-COVID levels. The expectation of a pent-up consumption wave has been replaced by a more cautious household approach, marked by a higher savings rate than the four years prior. Chinese household savings
One of the main sectors that did benefit from the re-opening was restaurants (+19.4% YTD), as Chinese consumers embraced 'activities' post-extended COVID lockdowns. This was at the expense of spending on household goods (home and office appliances, and building materials). The chart below shows China's retail sales growth. Key activity data
Since re-opening, other activity, loan and survey data has also been mixed:
The slowdown in sales has put pressure on developer cashflows, with Country Garden, the largest developer outside of Tier-1 cities, under bankruptcy clouds in August. Any further signs of stress in the property market will have a detrimental effect on consumer confidence. Real estate measures (trended, mil m2, CNY bil)
Policy response and stimulus The Chinese government understands that stabilising the property market is crucial to shifting the consumer mindset towards a more spending-oriented approach, not just in the short term but as part of a long-term transition from heavy investment and export-driven growth to domestic consumption and value-added sectors. Initially, investment markets expected substantial stimulus measures when signs of weakness emerged in Q2. However, during their July politburo meeting, the People's Bank of China (PBoC) opted for more targeted fiscal stimulus across specific sectors and smaller policy measures. The government has refrained from providing cash handouts, a stance endorsed by western governments. In essence, the Chinese government is prioritising boosting consumer sentiment and spending over pursuing indiscriminate growth, especially given the significantly higher Chinese government debt compared to previous periods of stimulus, such as the Global Financial Crisis (77.7% of GDP vs. 29.3% in 2007). To date, triggers that have been pulled include:
Our infrastructure exposure Within 4D's investment universe of core infrastructure, notably airports, ports, toll roads and utilities, the fundamental outlook has been mixed, with significantly overdone equity market moves. Travel demand in China has been a story of two markets. Domestically, flights are now above pre-pandemic levels, while, as at July, international travel is only at 46.9% of pre-pandemic levels. The slower-than-expected international recovery is due to the slow easing of restrictions (access to new passports and visas, group travel). Flight capacity has also been patchy regionally, and highly political, with capacity negotiated bilaterally between countries. However, we believe the demand is there. As consumer confidence increases, we expect an increase in Chinese tourists in European and Asian airports. European operator, Fraport, highlighted that there had been a steady recovery since re-opening from 18% of pre-pandemic levels in January, to 52% in June, with expectations this will continue to ramp up in the second half of the year. It has left its outlook unchanged for the financial year, anticipating Q3 will be back to 50-60% of 2019 while Q4 is expected to reach 80%, with December at 90%. Adding to the positive international momentum, in August, an additional 78 countries were added to the list where travel agents were allowed to sell group tours and package travel. Outbound flights from China (July 2023)
In the Chinese toll road sector, network traffic is now exceeding pre-COVID levels at 100- 120%. Some government policies on consumption are also benefiting the sector, such as reducing the tax on passenger vehicles and increasing subsidies for electric vehicles. Domestic car ownership maintained steady growth in the first half of 2023, reaching 328m vehicles (+5.8%). Further, the balance sheets of the listed toll road operators are in a very strong position to take in new assets should the provincial governments look to raise capital through asset sales. The port sector has seen muted volumes at both an export and import level, while yields have been solid. The volume story should not be a shock to the market - as flagged by operators - it's partly structural due to factors other than the stalled re-opening (e.g. global onshoring). The gas sector has fundamentally been slower to rebound. There has been some loss in volume growth given the slower economic activity, especially for those exposed to factories and manufacturing regions. There is also some concern over the slowing property market and a loss of new-connection revenue. However, the market has completely over discounted what we believe to be short-term shocks, and the sector is currently offering very attractive value. On our stress testing, we would have to assume zero volume growth for the next 25 years and a huge jump in the risk premia to get close to current prices. Conclusion The COVID re-opening boom and revenge-spending that was witnessed globally did not eventuate or persist as expected in China. Whilst activity data, credit growth, and consumer and business confidence has been weak, there have been signs of stabilisation in recent data points. However, one month doesn't change a picture, and market sentiment remains very poor, with foreign investor outflows still elevated. At an infrastructure sector level, domestic activity on toll roads and domestic air travel are already ahead of 2019 levels. Furthermore, the easing of travel restrictions and opening of travel capacity with key travel markets will positively impact European and Asian-based airports relying on Chinese travellers. Regardless, Chinese equities are pricing in multi-cycle low valuations, and some stocks are trading as if the re-opening never happened. We continue to be highly selective in our portfolio and continue to invest on fundamental value and assess investment opportunities that are beneficiaries to the Chinese economy, both directly and indirectly. |
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Funds operated by this manager: 4D Global Infrastructure Fund (Unhedged), 4D Global Infrastructure Fund (AUD Hedged), 4D Emerging Markets Infrastructure Fund For more information about 4D Infrastructure, visit https://www.4dinfra.com/ The content contained in this article represents the opinions of the authors. This commentary in no way constitutes a solicitation of business or investment advice. It is intended solely as an avenue for the authors to express their personal views on investing and for the entertainment of the reader. |
3 Oct 2023 - Investment Perspectives: A big disinflation tailwind is coming
28 Sep 2023 - The Rate Debate - Ep 42: Inflation has peaked
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The Rate Debate - Ep 42: Inflation has peaked Yarra Capital Management September 2023 Outgoing Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe finished his tenure as he began by keeping rates on hold as inflation cools. With inflation past its peak, can we expect rate cuts on the horizon, and could a softening of China's economy bring them even closer, or will services inflation drive the incoming governor Michele Bullock to deliver a rate rise later this year? Darren is joined by special guest Roy Keenan, Co-Head of Fixed Income, to explore this and the outlook for credit markets in episode 42 of The Rate Debate. |
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Funds operated by this manager: Yarra Australian Equities Fund, Yarra Emerging Leaders Fund, Yarra Enhanced Income Fund, Yarra Income Plus Fund |
27 Sep 2023 - Climate Finance Strategies and Global Decarbonisation
26 Sep 2023 - Australian Secure Capital Fund - Market Update
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Australian Secure Capital Fund - Market Update Australian Secure Capital Fund September 2023 The RBA has elected to maintain the current cash rate for the third month in a row, with economists predicting we are at the top of the interest rate cycle. This is a positive sign for Australian property prices, as consumer confidence begins to increase. The CoreLogic Home Value Index for the month of August is extremely positive, with all capital cities excluding Tasmania recording growth. Brisbane has led the way, with a 1.5% increase for the month, followed by Sydney and Adelaide, both recording a 1.1% increase. Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and Canberra also recording monthly growth of 0.9%, 0.8%, 0.5% and 0.3% respectively. Tasmania was the only capital city which did not experience growth for the month, falling just 0.1%. Whilst the capital city data was favourable, the regions experienced mixed results, with only regional South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia experiencing growth with 0.9%, 0.8% and 0.1% respectively. Regional Victoria fell the furthest, with a 0.6% reduction, along with New South Wales recording a 0.2% fall. The other regions remained stable. In a positive sign, property prices have continued to increase despite supply also increasing. The number of auctions taking place continues to increase, with 2,291 auctions taking place on the first weekend of September, up from 1,823 on the same weekend in 2022. Further bolstering the apparent strength of the Australian property market is that clearance rates also remain high, with a 71.2% clearance rate for the combined capital cities, up from 59.4% from last year. Melbourne and Sydney held the most auctions with 991 and 933 respectively, with Brisbane (159), Adelaide (103) and Canberra (95) well behind. Further behind was Perth and Tasmania recording just 8 and 2 auctions for the weekend. Adelaide recorded the highest clearance rate of 82.8%, followed by Sydney (73.8%), Melbourne (69.3%) and Brisbane (66.7%) all performing above last years results. Canberra was the only market in which the clearance rate dropped, with 63.6% for the weekend, down from 67.7% last year. Economists now predict we are at the end of the rate hike cycle and that demand should also increase as consumer sentiment rises on the back of interest rate stability, and the expectation that rates may begin to fall in mid to late 2024. Clearance Rates & AuctionsWeek of the 3rd of September 2023
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25 Sep 2023 - Glenmore Asset Management - Market Commentary
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Market Commentary - August Glenmore Asset Management September 2023 Globally equity markets in August were broadly weaker. In the US, the S&P 500 fell -1.8%, whilst the Nasdaq declined -2.2%. In the UK, the FTSE 100 fell -3.4%. Impacting investor sentiment was weaker than expected Chinese economic data (eg. Industrial output and credit growth), which saw commodity prices fall during the month. In Australia, the All Ordinaries Accumulation index fell -0.7%. Consumer discretionary was the top performing sector (driven by better than feared results), whilst utilities and staples (ie. more defensive sectors) underperformed. August saw the majority of listed companies report their results for the six months to 30 June, which provided an excellent health check on how these companies are trading in the current economic environment. In terms of the macro environment, data in August pointed to a continued reduction in inflationary pressures both in Australia and overseas. This in turn, should mean the bulk of heavy lifting in terms of interest rate rises needed to bring inflation down to targeted levels, has now been done. We viewed the August reporting season on the ASX as broadly better than had been feared. Many companies are seeing significant cost pressures (eg. wages, energy, rent, interest expense), however these issues were well known going into reporting season. Interestingly, the consumer discretionary sector performed well despite bearish expectations by investors. Whilst economic conditions remain challenging, it is important to remember the stock market is forward looking, hence we continue to believe the correct approach is invest in quality businesses and take a medium-term view, particularly given inflation data is now pointing to a clear decline from the very high levels of 6-12 months ago. Funds operated by this manager: |
22 Sep 2023 - The good news? We're avoiding recession. The bad news? Living standards are going backwards
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The good news? We're avoiding recession. The bad news? Living standards are going backwards Pendal September 2023 |
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Australia is in a 'per-capita recession', which means economic growth is not keeping pace with population growth. TIM HEXT explains the problem and what's likely to happen next AUSTRALIA'S national accounts -- quarterly estimates of economic flows such as GDP, consumption, investment, income and saving -- land two months after the end of a quarter. Many therefore ignore them as old news. But they are the most comprehensive picture of the Australian economy from a macro and micro lens. So what does the latest data reveal about Australia at the end of June? In short, it is a very mixed picture. More than ever how you are feeling depends on where you sit. This ABS graph below shows the various contributions: First, the good news. We are avoiding a recession. GDP is 2.1% higher than a year ago, though slowing. It's been 0.4% for two quarters now and will likely end the year near 1.2% -- slightly higher than the RBA forecast of 0.9%. Inventories are unlikely to be a drag next quarter, but net trade should also stabilise. Now the bad news. We are clearly in a per-capita recession. In other words, this level of economic growth is not enough to keep pace with population growth. Which means the average person is going backwards in their standard of living. Our population grew by 0.7% in Q2, the economy only 0.4%. GDP per capita is now 0.3% lower than a year ago and 0.6% lower than six months ago. We are importing growth, not growing from within. Per-capita recession Why are we in a per-capita recession? We are seeing more hours worked as employment rises along with our population. But we are going backwards in GDP per hour worked -- down a staggering 2% in the quarter. This is one of the worst results since deregulation in the 1980s. Remember this is a volume measure -- not price or value. Productivity is going backwards. It has now gone nowhere since 2016. Put simply, the RBA is facing labour costs rising at 4% -- with stagnant or even negative productivity. Unless businesses wear the squeeze, inflation is not coming back too far below 4% for some time. Consumers tighten belts How is the consumer holding up in the face of rate rises? Household consumption barely grew in the June quarter at 0.1%. Services were up 0.2% but goods were flat. We are tightening our belts in discretionary spending, which fell 0.5%. This is consistent with a soft landing and is not disastrous, at least for now. Motor vehicle sales are still strong, so maybe cashed-up baby boomers are buying four-wheel drives for their lap of Australia. Pandemic stimulus savings are a thing of the past -- the savings rate has fallen to a cycle low of 3.2%. In the national accounts savings is a residual (income less consumption) and not directly measured -- so it is not always an accurate indicator. But it shows buffers are falling, albeit very differently across age groups. The growth we did have came through a rebound in export volumes and ongoing government investment. This continues a pre-pandemic theme and shows as a country our ongoing reliance on these two sectors, which is concerning. Likely we will commission another productivity report -- having ignored previous recommendations -- and kick the can down the road. The immigration lever In the near term, the RBA would be a little less comfortable about this national accounts picture. But we think labour supply via immigration will push unemployment back up to 4% and ease some wage pressures. This should buy the RBA more time while the full impact of 4% in rate rises in little over a year feeds through. (We are still only 80% of the way there). If Australia was a company these accounts would be causing analysts to downgrade their outlook. Workers are less productive and costs are rising. But some of this may still be the lingering impact of the pandemic. Cue discussions on working from home. The RBA will be hoping this can turn around in the year ahead. Immigration will slow in the next 12 months to around 1%, because the sharp increase in foreign student numbers was a one-off return from the pandemic. An outright recession (not just a per capita one) is not a base case -- but the chances of it will rise. Dr Bullock will be facing the dilemma of a slowing economy under full employment and high wages as she takes over as RBA governor in a fortnight. We wish her luck trying to work out what all this means for rates. Author: Tim Hext, Portfolio Manager and Head of Government Bond Strategies |
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Funds operated by this manager: Pendal Focus Australian Share Fund, Pendal Global Select Fund - Class R, Pendal Horizon Sustainable Australian Share Fund, Pendal MicroCap Opportunities Fund, Pendal Sustainable Australian Fixed Interest Fund - Class R, Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions Fund - Class R, Regnan Credit Impact Trust Fund |
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This information has been prepared by Pendal Fund Services Limited (PFSL) ABN 13 161 249 332, AFSL No 431426 and is current as at December 8, 2021. PFSL is the responsible entity and issuer of units in the Pendal Multi-Asset Target Return Fund (Fund) ARSN: 623 987 968. A product disclosure statement (PDS) is available for the Fund and can be obtained by calling 1300 346 821 or visiting www.pendalgroup.com. The Target Market Determination (TMD) for the Fund is available at www.pendalgroup.com/ddo. You should obtain and consider the PDS and the TMD before deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of units in the Fund. An investment in the Fund or any of the funds referred to in this web page is subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment of withdrawal proceeds and loss of income and principal invested. This information is for general purposes only, should not be considered as a comprehensive statement on any matter and should not be relied upon as such. It has been prepared without taking into account any recipient's personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, recipients should, before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness having regard to their individual objectives, financial situation and needs. This information is not to be regarded as a securities recommendation. The information may contain material provided by third parties, is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be accurate as at its issue date. While such material is published with necessary permission, and while all reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information is complete and correct, to the maximum extent permitted by law neither PFSL nor any company in the Pendal group accepts any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Performance figures are calculated in accordance with the Financial Services Council (FSC) standards. Performance data (post-fee) assumes reinvestment of distributions and is calculated using exit prices, net of management costs. Performance data (pre-fee) is calculated by adding back management costs to the post-fee performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Any projections are predictive only and should not be relied upon when making an investment decision or recommendation. Whilst we have used every effort to ensure that the assumptions on which the projections are based are reasonable, the projections may be based on incorrect assumptions or may not take into account known or unknown risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from these projections. For more information, please call Customer Relations on 1300 346 821 8am to 6pm (Sydney time) or visit our website www.pendalgroup.com |
21 Sep 2023 - Climate change solutions in Japan
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Climate change solutions in Japan Nikko Asset Management September 2023 "Hottest on record" is on repeat In scenes now repeated every summer, not a day seems to go by without headlines of record-high heat somewhere on the planet, whether in Europe, Asia, Africa or North America. The World Meteorological Organization said it was "extremely likely" that July 2023 will be the hottest on record1. As temperatures climb, news images of raging wild fires have become all too common, along with other hallmarks of extreme weather such as violent storms and destructive flooding. We have been spared the worst of extreme weather patterns here in Tokyo. Nevertheless, we have acutely felt the impact of climate change. In Tokyo this August the mercury rose above 30 degrees Celsius every day of the month for the first time since records started being kept in 1875. As the country becomes more tropical in climate, long-standing traditions are being challenged. An example is in baseball, Japan's national pastime. The sport is usually played without any breaks. However, a "cooling time" rest period was introduced for the first time at the 105th edition of the National High School Baseball Championship, a nationwide tournament held annually in August. This break with tradition caused a national debate, with many of us wondering if children in the future will even be able to enjoy pastimes long associated with the summer in this country such as tennis, soccer and rugby? It is no secret that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions play a role in global warming. Yet, despite pledges by governments around the world to reduce GHG output, global emissions have been increasing steadily (Chart 1). Our tendency to ignore a looming catastrophe was satirized in the 2021 movie Don't Look Up. Two astronomers played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence discover a comet hurtling towards earth and warn the world of the impending disaster, but to no avail. In desperation, the two scientists beg the world via social media to just look up, but the US president, portrayed by Meryl Streep, advises to do just the opposite, telling people "don't look up". Chart 1: Global GHG emissions and corresponding temperature change
World total GHG: Total greenhouse gas emissions including land-use change and forestry, measured in million tonnes of CO2-equivalents.World temperature change from GHG: Change in global mean surface temperature (in °C) caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Source: Out World in Data material compiled by Nikko AM Japan: a major GHG emitter with room for improvement Unlike fictional characters in a movie, in reality we have no option but to look up and consider what is driving climate change. Let us take our home market of Japan as an example. The country was the seventh largest GHG emitter in 2021 (Chart 2). Japan's significant emissions are a result of its heavy reliance on fossil fuels to generate power, having slashed its dependency on nuclear power plants following the earthquake and tsunami-induced nuclear disaster in 2011. Chart 2: The world's top GHG emitters
Source: Our World in Data material compiled by Nikko AM Seen from a different perspective, being a large GHG emitter means there is plenty of room for Japan to improve its environmental standing. In 2020, the country made an ambitious pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, and in 2021, it set a goal to cut GHG emissions 46% by 2030 from 2013 levels. The share of renewable energy that generates Japan's electricity has risen to 22.4% in 2021 from 12.1% in 2014, according to the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies2. There are other concrete signs that Japan is indeed improving its standing, in particular among its private sector. As Chart 3 shows, Japan has the highest number of companies that support the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Upon request by G20 central bankers and finance ministers, the Financial Stability Board established the TCFD in 2015 to help the financial sector assess and price climate-related risks as well as opportunities. The TCFD Recommendations were released in 2017 and widely credited with shaping the voluntary climate-related financial disclosure landscape. However, whilst support for the TCFD is encouraging, the quality of disclosures still has room for improvement. Chart 3: TCFD-supporting institutions by country as at July 2023
Source: TCFD Consortium material compiled by Nikko AM Awareness towards sustainability within Japanese society is expected to increase, with companies taking a more proactive role in promoting it. Interest towards ESG investment is also rising among individual investors, led by those of the younger generation. According to a survey by Japanese news provider QUICK's ESG Research Center, 48% of respondents in their 20s were interested in ESG investment, compared to 44% in their 30s and 42% in their 40s3 . Equity strategy focused on climate change In addition to Japanese companies and individuals, awareness towards sustainability is also increasing among the country's financial institutions and investors. Until recently, only a few financial institutions disclosed their financed emissions, which are GHG emissions linked to investment and lending activities. However, more such institutions are now hiring sustainability specialists to estimate their financed GHG emissions, and their disclosure is seen gathering pace going forward. Against such a background, we expect increased demand among investors to reduce GHG emissions linked to their investments. One strategy asset managers use to meet such demand for portfolios with lower GHG emissions focuses on urging companies to accelerate decarbonisation efforts via stewardship activities. Nikko AM's climate change-focused Japanese equity strategy takes such an approach (Exhibit 1). Exhibit 1: Climate change-focused Japanese equity strategy's objectives
Source: Nikko AM The strategy covers all sectors to construct a low-GHG portfolio, providing exposure to Japanese stocks that is similar to the TOPIX while simultaneously aiming to limit financed emissions. As at end-July 2023, the portfolio's estimated tracking error versus the benchmark TOPIX was 0.34%, of which the estimated risk attributed to industry allocation was a modest 0.13%. GHG emissions and intensity are maintained approximately below 50% of those of the benchmark TOPIX (Exhibit 2); GHG emissions by companies are based on publicly disclosed information as well as estimates calculated using an in-house model. Exhibit 2: Portfolio-wide GHG restrictions and targets4 (KPIs)
Source: Nikko AM A key feature is the utilisation of in-house GHG emission estimates, which enable us to expand our coverage significantly from approximately 600 companies to the entire TOPIX universe of roughly 2,100; the weight coverage has also increased from 82% to 100%. We are able to cover almost the entire TOPIX on a market cap basis through the use of our own estimates as well as actual reported results. In addition to such a quantitative approach, another important feature is engagement with the investee companies. The quantitative data obtained is utilised in engagement undertaken by Nikko AM's Sustainable Investment Department. This interaction encourages companies to operate in a more environmentally conscious manner and disclose relevant information (Exhibit 3). The department's on-the-ground stewardship specialists are well positioned to leverage Nikko AM's influence on investee companies. Their well-established relationships with local companies give Nikko AM an advantage over foreign peers. In addition, our stewardship activities in all global regions follow the highest international standards, with the firm having been recognised in 2023 for the second consecutive year by the UK's Financial Reporting Council as a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code. Nikko AM was the first Japanese asset manager accepted to the Code based on a global, firm-wide application. Exhibit 3: Driving decarbonisation initiatives through engagement
Source: Nikko AM Engagement example: a major Japanese steel company
Summary The climate change crisis we are witnessing presents both challenges and opportunities. Focusing on the latter from an investment perspective, in our view asset managers are in a position to help facilitate society's goals of reducing GHG emissions and decarbonising. An important way of meeting investors' needs for portfolios with a lower carbon footprint is through direct engagement with investee companies. Japan is currently a major GHG emitter but the country's ambitious plan to become carbon neutral by 2050 has made it necessary for companies to ramp up decarbonisation efforts. The intent is not in short supply as Japan has the highest number of companies that support the TCFD and they are increasing the quality of their data disclosures. We believe strategies focused on climate change-related initiatives in Japan are uniquely placed to help with the construction of a greener portfolio while assisting society as a whole in its decarbonisation efforts. Author: Masayuki Teraguchi, Head of Investment Technology Fund Management Department Funds operated by this manager: Nikko AM ARK Global Disruptive Innovation Fund, Nikko AM Global Share Fund
1 "July 2023 is set to be the hottest month on record", World Meteorological Organization, 27 July 2023 2 "2022 Share of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources in Japan (Preliminary)", Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, 26 April 2023 3 QUICK sustainability awareness survey, December 2021 4* Figures for reductions in GHG emissions and GHG intensity are target values that could become difficult to achieve due to the market environment, AUM, changes in companies' emissions or other such factors. The figures are target levels as of the time of portfolio construction and rebalancing. They do not constitute a guarantee that the figures will be constantly maintained within a certain range during the investment management period. * The above quantitative targets (GHG emissions to be no more than approximately 50% of the benchmark level, etc.) may be subject to change in the case of changes in the market environment, etc. Important disclaimer information |
