Our funds delivered positive returns over the month and outperformed the benchmark. As we frequently state, when investors start shifting focus towards business fundamentals and away from macro issues, companies delivering sustainable earnings growth are rewarded with higher share prices.
This is starting to emerge in our return numbers over the past few months. We are expecting this trend to accelerate in the coming period, albeit you should expect month-to-month volatility.
The most profitable companies aided by megatrends provide more certain sustainable earnings growth in this uncertain environment. They are also the best compounders of wealth over a full investment cycle. Whether the future contains a deflationary shock, negative knock-on impacts from the banking sector, or sustained higher inflation, the highest-quality companies do very well regardless. This is because they are in a strong financial position, have the capacity to invest without tapping external capital, and possess the ability to lift prices whilst maintaining sales growth. Their numbers are few globally, but they are the only ones we invest in.
Beauty lasts….
…at least as far as products are concerned. A beauty revolution is fuelling the explosive growth of the cosmetics industry even with the threat of recession.
Premium cosmetics are part of Insync’s Beautification & Wellbeing megatrend. Forecast growth is 8% pa over the next 5 years, 2x global GDP. Cosmetic businesses are some of the most enduring and profitable ones in the world.
Key drivers behind the secular and sustainable growth in cosmetics include the growing Emerging Market - middle class (+700m more people are entering this cohort by 2030).
Increasing consumer preferences for higher-quality, natural/organic products, and changing consumer behaviours and lifestyles present premium pricing opportunities. These global brands often prioritize ethical and sustainable practices which appeal to consumers that prioritize social responsibility.
Demand for cosmetics may not be completely recession-proof, but it does tend to be relatively resilient during downturns. Cosmetic products are considered an affordable luxury, as many are relatively inexpensive compared to other luxury goods. Consumers are willing to spend a little extra on cosmetics as a way to treat themselves, even during difficult economic times.
This is called the Lipstick effect- and we wrote more about this back in 2021.
So regardless of whether we face a deflationary shock or a sustained period of inflation, the premium cosmetic industry is well-positioned to keep growing and provides a greater level of certainty for the uncertain near-term environment