Portfolio manager comments — Q3 2024
Fund performance was negative during the quarter, primarily due to the weakness within the fund’s healthcare holdings, Novo Nordisk and Edwards Lifesciences. Novo Nordisk has encountered setbacks in the form of delayed production and unfavorable results in a research study. Edwards Lifesciences reported lower than expected growth. The delayed recovery was primarily due to lower volumes for their minimally invasive heart valves, due to a shortage of hospital personnel and longer healthcare queues. ASML also had a negative period, driven by increased uncertainty about their operations in China that have been affected by geopolitical tensions and the risk for additional trade barriers. On the positive side, the new holding in DSV rose close to 18% during the period and was the fund’s third strongest contributor on a relative basis. The strongest contributors were UnitedHealth Group and S&P Global, which both showed double-digit increases during the period and represent major positions in the fund.
Activity levels were high in the period and several new holdings were added to the fund. The objective with this is to broaden the fund’s exposure to additional sectors and underlying value drivers. New holdings included the chip manufacturers AMD and Nvidia, the insurance broker Brown & Brown and the construction materials company Carlisle. The fund sold the holdings in Accenture and Deutsche Börse. The broadening of the holdings should result in a more stable performance. In addition, an increased focus on identifying and lowering company-specific downside risks should contribute positively over time.