Portfolio manager comments — Q4 2025
The US equity market continued to rise during the final quarter of the year, primarily driven by strong performance in the healthcare sector and several semiconductor companies. Within the semiconductor sector, memory companies stood out in particular, supported by strong AI driven demand.
Fund performance benefited from several holdings in the healthcare sector, including Eli Lilly and Thermo Fisher. Exposure to the sector was further increased through the addition of Edwards Lifesciences to the portfolio. Performance was also supported by very strong development in Alphabet, which reported solid quarterly results at the end of October. Lam Research, which was added during the previous quarter, also performed well.
At the same time, performance was weighed down by a number of software companies, such as ServiceNow and Descartes Systems. Weak performance in Uber also had a negative impact, driven by increasing competition from Tesla in autonomous vehicles. The holding in Uber was reduced during the quarter.
New holdings added during the period included the cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks and the distributor SiteOne Landscaping. Companies divested included Home Depot and Progressive Corp.
The fund continues to hold high quality companies with exposure to structurally strong themes such as re shoring, electrification, and digitalization.