Portfolio manager comments — Q4 2025
The fund also performed well during the fourth quarter, rising by approximately 2.5% in SEK, driven by positive excess returns during the period. For the full year, fund performance amounted to approximately 20% in SEK, placing the fund among the top‑performing funds of 2025.
October and November were characterized by the reporting season, during which corporate results came in slightly below market expectations overall. Sales development was generally solid, but operating profit and earnings per share were somewhat weaker than expected, which weighed on share prices during the period.
Global risk appetite deteriorated further during November, partly due to increased concerns about potential overvaluation related to AI. Toward the end of the month and into December, however, focus shifted toward expectations of upcoming interest rate cuts, seasonal support, and continued positive fundamental prospects heading into 2026, including for the Norwegian market. This contributed to a strong finish to both the quarter and the full year.
During the period, no major changes were made to the portfolio. From a sector perspective, the fund was overweight fisheries and seafood, banks, and technology, as well as parts of the materials and industrial sectors.
Among the largest positive contributors to performance were Salmar and Mowi, several of the savings banks, as well as Link Mobility, SoftwareOne (formerly Crayon), and Yara. Vend (formerly Schibsted) underperformed and had a negative impact on performance, as did the fund’s underweights in Norsk Hydro and Orkla.
We assess the outlook for 2026 as generally positive, but expect continued significant market volatility. Developments suggest that individual companies delivering strong results continue to be rewarded, rather than entire industries or broader market trends.
We therefore focus on maintaining portfolio flexibility and investing in carefully selected companies with positive underlying momentum and strong share price performance. We also see opportunities in investments where company‑specific events may contribute to increased value.