Why it pays to invest in structural growth businesses

Why it pays to invest in structural growth businesses

Structural growth companies – like Appen (ASX:APX) and Nanosonics (ASX:NAN) – are generally involved in cloud-based technology, data centres, digital payments, e-commerce and medical technology.  Importantly, they can grow regardless of the COVID-19 crisis and the broader economic cycle. Which is the reason we hold an overweight position in our small companies portfolio.

Following on from my blog on the Montgomery Small Companies Fund I thought I would explore the Structural Growth category in a little more detail and its effect on the valuation and other pertinent fundamentals on the overall portfolio.

The Montgomery Small Companies Fund owns 21 companies (out of a portfolio of 49 companies) within the Structural Growth category. Collectively, these companies account for 45 per cent of the portfolio, which is 12 percent overweight relative to the benchmark, the S&P/ ASX Small Ordinaries Accumulation Index at 33 per cent.

Structural Growth companies are generally involved in cloud deployed technology tools, data centres, digital payments, e-Commerce and Medical Technology. Selected companies in the MSCF include Appen (ASX:APX), City Chic Collective (ASX:CCX), Nanosonics (ASX:NAN), Megaport (ASX:MP1), Pointsbet Holdings (ASX: PBH) and Pro Medicus (ASX:PME).

Gary Rollo and Dominic Rose have produced the following data for both the Montgomery Small Companies Fund and the benchmark.

Observations include:

1. Relative to the benchmark, the Montgomery Small Companies Fund has significantly faster forecast sales and EBITDA growth over the two years to June 2022.
2. In terms of the forecast EV/EBITDA and PE for the year to June 2021, the Montgomery Small Companies Fund is slightly cheaper than the benchmark. While the Fund’s dividend yield is approximately half the benchmark, our view is small companies are often founded by entrepreneurs; their businesses often occupy profitable niches with the opportunity to grow at much faster rate than the broad economy.
3. While small capitalisation companies generally involve more risk because of their lower liquidity, their greater sensitivity to management’s influence and their greater sensitivity to general economic conditions, the Montgomery Small Companies Fund offers superior liquidity characteristics and a lower three year rolling standard deviation relative to the benchmark.

Finally, the chart below illustrates the outperformance of the Fund relative to the benchmark from its launch on 20 September 2019 to 30 June 2020.

Source: Fundhost, Montgomery

You can learn more about the Montgomery Small Companies Fund here.

Alternatively, if you would like to discuss, please call me or Toby Roberts on 02 8046 5000.

The Montgomery Small Companies Fund  owns shares in Appen, City Chic Collective, Nanosonics, Megaport, Pointsbet Holdings and Pro Medicus. This article was prepared 23 July with the information we have today, and our view may change. It does not constitute formal advice or professional investment advice. If you wish to trade these companies you should seek financial advice.

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Chief Executive Officer of Montgomery Investment Management, David Buckland has over 30 years of industry experience. David is a deeply knowledgeable and highly experienced financial services executive. Prior to joining Montgomery in 2012, David was CEO and Executive Director of Hunter Hall for 11 years, as well as a Director at JP Morgan in Sydney and London for eight years.

This post was contributed by a representative of Montgomery Investment Management Pty Limited (AFSL No. 354564). The principal purpose of this post is to provide factual information and not provide financial product advice. Additionally, the information provided is not intended to provide any recommendation or opinion about any financial product. Any commentary and statements of opinion however may contain general advice only that is prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances or needs. Because of this, before acting on any of the information provided, you should always consider its appropriateness in light of your personal objectives, financial circumstances and needs and should consider seeking independent advice from a financial advisor if necessary before making any decisions. This post specifically excludes personal advice.