North American Strategy
A high-conviction, long-only North American equity portfolio
AUM 31.12.2024
Figures are representative and are used here for illustrative purposes only.
AUM 31.12.2024
Figures are representative and are used here for illustrative purposes only.
The Strategy aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities of North American companies.
The investment philosophy of the Polar Capital North American team is driven by fundamental and bottom-up stock analysis, focusing on both long-term value creation and value. The philosophy is based on the simple understanding that the team is investing clients’ savings in American businesses with the goal of compounding those savings over the long term at an attractive rate of return. They believe the best chance of doing this successfully is to invest in companies that sustainably compound at attractive rates over time and to invest in them at attractive valuations.
A focus on long-term value creation stems from the notion that, as an owner on behalf of clients in shares of companies, the team wants to see an attractive return (through growth and capital deployment) from their underlying businesses’ activities. Durable businesses whose future cash flows can sustainably compound at attractive rates provide a fundamental performance tailwind over time as well as a fundamental margin of safety.
Value creation cannot be looked at in isolation though. A focus on finding shares that offer good value is also key to driving attractive shareholder returns. The aim of the investment process is to identify attractive long-term value creation that is not adequately encapsulated in the share price of a company. This is done through a disciplined approach to valuation that requires long-term thinking and judgement. This increases the probability of a revaluation of a business’s cash flows, which can supplement returns, and creates a long-term valuation margin of safety.
Therefore, a dual focus on value creation and value results in more ways to win: value creation provides an underlying compounding tailwind to the portfolio, while buying at an attractive price results in a higher chance of a subsequent revaluation of the company’s cash flows. It also provides a two-fold long-term margin of safety – a fundamental margin of safety and a valuation margin of safety.
Andrew started his career in 1997 at Baillie Gifford, before spending seven years at Threadneedle where he managed the Threadneedle American Strategy. He left to set up Polar Capital's North American team in 2011.
Richard started his career in 1999 at Mercury Asset Management, before working at Threadneedle for nine years managing institutional mandates on the North American equities team. He left to set up Polar Capital's North American team in 2011.
Prior to joining Polar Capital, Colm spent over 3 years as a global equity analyst at Seven Pillars Capital Management. Before that, he worked as an Economist for the Bank of England where he was responsible for analysis of banks and banking systems.
Risks:
Important Information: This website is provided for the sole use of the intended recipient and is not a financial promotion. The Polar Capital North American Strategy (the “Strategy”) is a Strategy of Polar Capital Funds plc which is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as an Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities under the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 352/2011), as amended. This website does not seek to make any recommendation to buy or sell any particular security (including shares in the Strategy) or to adopt any specific investment strategy. This website does not contain information material to an investor’s decision to invest in the Strategy. Shares in the Strategy are offered only on the basis of information contained in the prospectus, key investor information document (“KIID”), and the latest annual audited accounts. Copies are available free of charge from Polar Capital at the below address or on www.polarcapitalfunds.com. The KIID is available in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. The prospectus is available in English.
Information Subject to Change: The information contained herein is subject to change, without notice, at the discretion of Polar Capital and Polar Capital does not undertake to revise or update this information in any way.
Benchmark: The Strategy is actively managed and uses the MSCI North America Net Total Return Index as a performance target. The benchmark has been chosen as it is generally considered to be representative of the investment universe in which the Strategy invests. The performance of the Strategy is likely to differ from the performance of the benchmark as the holdings, weightings and asset allocation will be different. Investors should carefully consider these differences when making comparisons. Further information about the benchmark can be found at http://www.msci.com/. The benchmark is provided by an administrator on the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) register of benchmarks which includes details of all authorised, registered, recognised and endorsed EU and third country benchmark administrators together with their national competent authorities.
Country Specific Disclaimers: When considering an investment into the Strategy, you should make yourself aware of the relevant financial, legal and tax implications. Neither Polar Capital LLP nor Polar Capital Funds plc shall be liable for, and accept no liability for, the use or misuse of this document.
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