Portfolio Manager Wen Cheong debunks the perceived challenges of investing in the emerging market space, highlighting his team’s concentrated approach and candour. He details how his focus on best-in-class management and passion for identifying attractive valuations has powered returns.   Key points from this episode:   • Small-cap companies are a pond with fewer rocks; opportunities can be found in steady, established businesses with competitive advantages. • The slump in semiconductor demand in 2023 was primarily driven by a normalization in post-pandemic demand and macro challenges leading to an inventory de-stocking cycle. • The EM team makes decisions for the portfolio entirely on a bottom-up basis with a slight macro overlay. • Even in areas with geopolitical uncertainty, opportunities can be found in well-run, high-quality companies with attractive valuations. • The emerging markets space remains full of diverse opportunities for those willing to do the deep dive.   Host: Rob Campbell, CFA, Institutional Portfolio Manager Guest: Wen Cheong, CFA, Portfolio Manager   For more details and full transcript visit: https://www.mawer.com/the-art-of-boring/podcast/fishing-in-less-crowded-ponds-identifying-opportunities-in-emerging-markets-ep155 This episode is available for download anywhere you get your podcasts. -- Founded in 1974, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. (pronounced "more") is a privately owned independent investment firm managing assets for institutional and individual investors. Mawer employs over 250 people in Canada, U.S., and Singapore.    Visit Mawer at https://www.mawer.com.    Follow us on social:  Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/Mawer_Invest  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mawer-investment-management/