Why invest in global equities
Australian investors often prefer to invest in Australian shares due to their familiarity with local companies. For generations, many have held shares in iconic Australian firms like BHP Billiton, Woolworths, and Westpac Banking, or their predecessors. While many Australians invest locally, they are spending with global companies, regularly choosing to consume products and services from global mega-brands.
In our connected lives, we awake to an alarm from our Apple iPhone, sip our morning at-home coffee from Nestlé and tap Visa or Mastercard as we board the train or jump in an Uber. Australians heavily rely on global technology brands such as Microsoft Windows, Netflix, Spotify, Apple iPhone, Alphabet for Google internet searches and Meta Facebook and Instagram for social networking. Our pantries and bathrooms are filled with many of Nestlé’s 2000 brands, especially some of its 31 mega-brands (Nespresso, Milo, Kit-Kat, Nescafe, Purina, Nature’s Bounty Vitamins) as well as Lóreal’s broad array of beauty products (Aesop, Garnier, Redken, Lancome). A stop at McDonalds is a feature of many Australian road trips.
We use credit cards and mobile Wallets for almost all payments, via international financial services providers like American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Apple Pay and increasingly shop online using platforms like Amazon. Our medicines are developed by pharmaceutical companies based abroad such as in Switzerland or the US, and our surgeries are undertaken using precision equipment by multinational companies.
Despite the familiarity and extensive usage of these international brands and products, many Australians have been less confident to own shares in them. Exploring the potential of investing in international shares could offer two significant benefits:
Broadening Investment Opportunities
Investing in international shares expands the range of investment options available to Australians. By diversifying beyond the local market, investors can access industries and sectors not represented or less prominent in the Australian market and bring the strengths of industry leaders to their investment portfolios. We consider that this broader exposure can potentially lead to higher returns and opportunities for growth.
Diversifying Risk
Owning shares in international companies can help spread risk across different geographic regions and economies. This diversification may help reduce the impact of local economic downturns or industry specific challenges on an investor’s portfolio. By spreading investments across multiple countries and industries, investors may mitigate the risk associated with over-reliance on any single market or sector. Australians considering investing in international shares can bring their affinity with chosen brands to their investments while also gaining potential benefits of risk diversification and widening the investment opportunities. As new frontiers like artificial intelligence evolve, global investors can share in the opportunities as global companies bring these new technologies to life around us.
Four key attributes that may contribute to achieving these two outcomes with international investing:
We consider that many of the world’s best companies are found overseas – where 98% of stocks, by market capitalisation, are located. Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Apple, Meta (Facebook, Instagram and
WhatsApp’s parent), and Microsoft dominate their respective industries but aren’t listed on the ASX and have no comparable local equivalents. Leading corporations like Netflix, Procter & Gamble, Amazon, Visa,
McDonald’s, and SAP also lack representation on the local exchange. The large number of high-quality foreign companies means that international equities can provide more diversification at a stock and sector level than
may be found on the ASX, which is dominated by traditional industries such as financial services and mining. At the same time, owning some of the world’s best companies can broaden your investment outlook and
potential for returns.
Investing in international equities can offer access to emerging industries poorly represented on the ASX. For example, for those seeking exposure to the prospects of artificial intelligence, 3D-printing, Cloud or cybersecurity,
the ASX may provide limited investment avenues in these thematics. Overseas exchanges offer a broader selection of opportunities within major industries. Exposure to market leaders in global industries is typically only
available on Australia’s listed markets by investing into listed ETFs. Some examples of these leading companies across diverse industries include SAP (software, Germany), ASML (semiconductor equipment, Netherlands)
Stryker (Medical technology, USA), Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (Luxury, France) Colgate Palmolive (Oral and Petcare, USA) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (casual dining, USA).
A portfolio that holds only Australian assets such as property, term deposits and Australian stocks is vulnerable to fluctuations in the Australian economy. The lack of diversification may expose investors to higher levels
of risk, as their entire portfolio may be tied to the performance of a single market or economy. A heavy reliance on local investments may make a portfolio more susceptible to economic downturns or crises specific to
that region.
When you invest in some of the largest international companies, you can gain greater exposure to a wide range of markets and economies, each with its own unique characteristics and drivers. By spreading investments
across various regions, your portfolio will be less concentrated, less dependent on Australia and may reduce the impact of local negative events.
Investing in different markets may help diversify currency risk. Investing in international equities offers exposure to foreign currencies as the global stocks are bought in the local currency of their listing, which may include
US dollars, Euros or Swiss francs, and many earn their revenues in a wide array of different currencies through global operations.
Investing in global equities offers Australian investors the opportunity to tap into the familiarity they already have with global mega-brands and access broader investment opportunities. By venturing into the global market, investors gain access to a wider array of industries and sectors underrepresented or absent on the Australian stock exchange. Investing in global equities can provide exposure to some of the world’s best companies, diversification, and the potential for long-term growth.
MAGELLAN’S GLOBAL EQUITY FUNDS
Investing in 20-40 of the world’s best companies, the following three funds aim to achieve attractive
risk-adjusted returns over the medium to long term while reducing the risk of permanent capital
loss:
MAGELLAN GLOBAL FUND - OPEN CLASS UNITS - ACTIVE ETF (ASX:MGOC)
MAGELLAN GLOBAL FUND - (HEDGED)
MAGELLAN EQUITIES GLOBAL FUND (CURRENCY HEDGED) - ACTIVE ETF (ASX:MHG)
A core holding investing in 20 to 40 of the world’s best global stocks. The Fund’s investment objective is to outperform the MSCI World Net Total Return Index (AUD) net of fees over periods of three years or longer:
MAGELLAN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND (ASX: OPPT)
MAGELLAN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND NO. 2
Important Information: This material is not intended to constitute advertising or advice of any kind and you should not construe the contents of this material as legal, tax, investment or other advice. In making an investment decision, you should read and consider any relevant offer documentation applicable to any investment product or service and must rely on your own examination of the same and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any investment decision.
The investment program of the strategy or strategies presented herein (‘Strategy’) is speculative and may involve a high degree of risk. The Strategy is not intended as a complete investment program and is suitable only for sophisticated investors who can bear the risk of loss. The Strategy may lack diversification, which can increase the risk of loss to investors. The Strategy’s performance may be volatile. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results and no person guarantees the future performance of the Strategy, the amount or timing of any return from it, that asset allocations will be met, that it will be able to implement its investment strategy or that its investment objectives will be achieved. Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs and such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. This material may contain ‘forward-looking statements’. Actual events or results or the actual performance of the Strategy or any financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. The Strategy will have limited liquidity, no secondary market for interests in the Strategy is expected to develop and there are restrictions on an investor’s ability to withdraw and transfer interests in the Strategy. The management fees, incentive fees and allocation and other expenses of the Strategy will reduce trading profits, if any, or increase losses.
No representation or warranty is made with respect to the correctness, accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of any of the information contained in this material. This information is subject to change at any time and no person has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material. This material may include data, research and other information from third party sources. No guarantee is made that such information is accurate, complete or timely and no warranty is given regarding results obtained from its use. The issuer of this material and its related entities and affiliates will not be responsible or liable for any losses, whether direct, indirect or consequential, including loss of profits, damages, costs, claims or expenses, relating to or arising from your use or reliance upon any part of the information contained in this material including trading losses, loss of opportunity or incidental or punitive damages.
This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced, or disclosed, in whole or in part in any circumstances. , Further information regarding any benchmark referred to herein can be found at www.magellaninvestmentpartners.com/funds/benchmark-information/. Any third-party trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners and are used for information purposes and only to identify the company names or brands of their respective owners. (080825-#i1)
United Kingdom: This material has been prepared by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946 AFSL 304 301) doing business as Magellan Investment Partners and is distributed in the United Kingdom by Magellan Investment Partners (UK) Limited (FRN: 1037936), an appointed representative of Sentinel Regulatory Services Ltd (FRN: 1007093) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity under the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). This material does not form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for, or any solicitation of any such offer to purchase, sell or subscribe for, any shares, units or other type of investment product or service. This material or any part of it, or the fact of its distribution, is for background purposes only. This material has not been approved by a person authorised under the FSMA and its distribution in the United Kingdom and is only being made to persons in circumstances that will not constitute a financial promotion for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA as a result of an exemption contained in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (FPO) as set out below. This material is exempt from the restrictions in the FSMA as it is to be strictly communicated only to ‘investment professionals’ as defined in Article 19(5) of the FPO.
United States: This material has been prepared by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946 AFSL 304 301) doing business as Magellan Investment Partners (‘Magellan’) which is a registered investment adviser. The investment strategies described herein are distributed in the United States by Frontier Partners, Inc. (‘Frontier’), a U.S.-registered investment adviser. For the purposes of the US Securities Act 1933, Magellan and Frontier are affiliated entities. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, financial instrument or product or to provide financial services. It is not the intention of Magellan to create legal relations on the basis of information provided herein. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Where performance figures are shown net of fees charged to clients, the performance has been reduced by the amount of the highest fee charged to any client employing that particular strategy during the period under consideration. Actual fees may vary depending on, among other things, the applicable fee schedule and portfolio size. Fees are available upon request and also may be found in Part II of Magellan’s Form ADV.
Canada: This material is provided to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946 AFSL 304 301) doing business as Magellan Investment Partners (‘Magellan’). Magellan is not registered in any province in Canada. The head office of Magellan is in Sydney, Australia and all or substantially all of its assets are situated outside of Canada. Due to the foregoing, there may be difficulty enforcing legal rights against Magellan.
South Africa: This material is provided to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946 AFSL 304 301) doing business as Magellan Investment Partners, who in accordance with FAIS Notice 55 of 2023 issued by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, Magellan Investment Partners is exempted from section 7(1) of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 (Act No. 37 of 2002). This material is not an offer in terms of Chapter 4 of the Companies Act, 2008.
UAE: This material has been produced by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946 AFSL 304 301) doing business as Magellan Investment Partners. This material is not for distribution to any other person. This material, and the information contained herein, does not constitute, and is not intended to constitute, a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (‘UAE’) and accordingly should not be construed as such. Any offer of securities or financial services is made only to a limited number of exempt Professional Investors in the UAE who fall under one of the following categories: federal or local governments, government institutions and agencies, or companies wholly owned by any of them. No securities or services have been approved by or licensed or registered with the UAE Central Bank, the Securities and Commodities Authority, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority or any other relevant licensing authorities or governmental agencies in the UAE (the ‘Authorities’). The Authorities assume no liability for any investment that the named addressee makes as a Professional Investor. This material is for the use of the named addressee only and should not be given or shown to any other person (other than employees, agents or consultants in connection with the addressee’s consideration thereof). Other jurisdictions: This material is provided to you by Magellan Asset Management Limited (ABN 31 120 593 946 AFSL 304 301) doing business as Magellan Investment Partners.
No distribution of this material will be made in any jurisdiction where such distribution is not authorised or is unlawful. This material does not constitute, and may not be used for the purpose of, an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction or in any circumstances in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful or not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so. (080825-#W17)