Portfolio manager comments — Q3 2024
Fund performance was positive in Q3 and the SEK was largely unchanged relative to the Brazilian real. The central bank in Brazil hiked the interest rate by 0.25% during the period in an effort to anchor inflation expectations, which was viewed positively by the equity market. The action of the central bank has restored the confidence in its independence, which had previously been in question. The market is expecting additional rate hikes during the year, followed by a cycle of rate cuts in 2025. Going forward we continue to expect a rebound of the Brazilian consumer and thereby good opportunities within the consumer sector, which posted weak performance at the outset of the year. We could see signs of this recovery in Q3, where the clothing chain, Lojas Renner, was the fund’s most notable contributor to returns. The company’s results for Q2 exceeded expectations, which was rewarded by the market. On the downside, the fintech company Pagbank was the fund’s weakest contributor after reporting lower than expected results. The report also showed increased competition and price pressures, which reduced margins. As a result, we decreased our position in the company.
During the quarter the fund added a new company, Banco Inter, which is a digital platform for financial services. The company’s platform has reached high penetration levels within the country and good growth in the number of users. The company now has plans to monetize this customer base, which we find appealing.
The fund has a thematic investment process with Demographics, Productivity, Environment and Lifestyles as the main themes.