Coronation Houseview Equity Strategy

The Strategy had a satisfactory quarter, with a return ahead of its benchmark. It has performed well against its peer group and benchmark over all meaningful periods, which aligns with our long-term investment horizon.

Notwithstanding the lingering uncertainty and distressed macro conditions around the world, equity markets continued to grind higher on the back of the economic recovery that is anticipated post Covid-19, aided by unprecedented fiscal stimulus and record-low interest rates. During the quarter, the MSCI All Country World Index (+8% in US dollars for the quarter) rallied to recover all of its losses for the year. US equity markets in particular were incredibly strong, with the S&P 500 (+8.9%) and Nasdaq (+12.6%) indices both reaching new all-time highs. Our large global equity weighting added to performance during the quarter. Although global equity markets have recovered strongly off their lows, we continue to believe that valuations look reasonable – especially relative to other asset classes.

The rand remained volatile but ended the quarter over 3% stronger against the US dollar on the back of broad-based dollar weakness, improving local sentiment due to a relaxation in lockdown restrictions, and some long-anticipated arrests by our law enforcement authorities. More arrests, and successful prosecutions, are crucial to restoring investor confidence in our governance structures and our economy.

The FTSE/JSE Capped Shareholder Weighted All Share Index appreciated 1% in the quarter, pulling the rolling 12-month returns back into positive territory. Some good stock selection in the Strategy added to these returns. The resources sector had another very strong quarter and was up 6%. Platinum stocks were up strongly on the back of a rising platinum group metals (PGM) basket price and companies reporting good annual results. The industrial and financial sectors (both down 2%) continued their recent underperformance, while the property sector had another challenging quarter, ending the period down 15%.

While the Strategy remains skewed to rand hedge stocks, which are attractive for stock-specific reasons, we have also been increasing our exposure to domestic-facing stocks, many of which we believe are very attractively priced.

LIFE INSURERS HAVE STRONG APPEAL

One of the areas in which we have been active is the life insurance sector. The life companies have several appealing investment attributes:

• a ‘sticky’/desirable product in retirement savings and life insurance – Covid-19 has heightened consumer awareness of the need for life cover;
• extensive distribution networks, which are costly and time-consuming to replicate;
• 30% to 40% earnings exposure to equity markets, which we think offer good value;
• large in-force books that generate fees, despite lockdowns;
• diversified earnings streams (life insurance, short-term insurance and investments); and
• strong regulatory capital positions.

Embedded value is a reasonable proxy for life insurance valuations. Life company share prices have derated meaningfully relative to embedded value over the last few years. Momentum Metropolitan has declined from a premium to embedded value back in 2015 to a 40% discount today. New management is impressive and has placed the business on a firmer footing, improving underlying operational performance and exiting underperforming operations. This was well demonstrated in Metropolitan Life, which outperformed peers as adviser productivity and digital initiatives bore fruit. We don’t think the market gives the company sufficient credit for the turnaround that is under way. Meaningful earnings pain has also been taken in the form of Covid-19 provisions, which we believe will support earnings in future periods.

Sanlam is another recent addition to the Strategy. We have long admired the business for its strong growth profile, high-calibre management team and high levels of accounting prudence. Historically, we haven’t owned Sanlam, given a stretched valuation and the lack of a margin of safety. The recent selloff has allowed us to buy this quality compounder at an attractive valuation.

The Shoprite share price appreciated 31% during the quarter and contributed meaningfully to performance. After a difficult two-year period in which much work was done internally, it was particularly pleasing to see the company deliver an excellent set of full-year results in which it started regaining market share, expanded operating margins, delivered a very good cash flow performance and announced decisive action to deal with its underperforming African strategy. Although we trimmed the position into strength, we remain positive about the prospects for this high-quality business and have maintained a sizeable position in the Strategy.

COMMODITIES MAINTAIN SHINE

We continue to maintain a large exposure to resources in our equity and balanced strategies based on our assessment of their long-term value. Our preference for Anglo American over BHP Billiton – based on a more attractive commodity mix and valuation – continued to contribute to performance for the quarter. Our platinum exposure – mainly through Northam and Impala – also had a very strong quarter and contributed to performance. Given the positive outlook for medium-term PGM prices, above-normal free cash generation and very strong balance sheets, we expect cash returns to shareholders to increase materially going forward.

We have also been adding to our Glencore position on share-price weakness. Glencore is a globally diversified mining company. It produces copper, cobalt, nickel, coal and several other commodities. We like this commodity basket, which will benefit disproportionately from a shift to electric drivetrains. Glencore’s assets are generally low cost and long life. The company’s share price has been under pressure after various law enforcement agencies (including the US Department of Justice) announced that it was investigating the company’s activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Venezuela and Nigeria. We have applied a material ‘haircut’ to our fair value for the possibility of a fine, and we penalise the overall valuation multiple applied to the group to cater for governance risks. Despite this, we still find meaningful upside to our estimate of fair value in Glencore. Finally, we are encouraged by recent announcements by the company, all of which indicate that it is steadily addressing our governance concerns.

Other material Strategy activity for the quarter included the switching of our remaining Prosus holding into Naspers, because we believe that the additional discount to intrinsic value is incredibly attractive. We also trimmed our Anheuser-Busch InBev position on share price strength and opportunistically added to our FirstRand position, along with some other domestic stocks.

TO CONCLUDE

In this uncertain world, our objective remains to build diversified strategies that can absorb unanticipated shocks. We will remain focused on valuation and will seek to take advantage of attractive opportunities that the market may present to us. We are excited by the current Strategy and, given compelling valuations, we are excited about future return prospects.

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