The AI summary of a GS report highlighting exposures across HF and Mutual Funds, testing out NotebookLM for summarizing big equity research reports.

If you haven't tried Googles NotebookLM product to summarize marketing brochures and other readings using a 1-1 podcast format, you have to try it, its truly amazing. Here's the AI summary of the recently refreshed Brands Investor Brochure, which can be found here in 1 of the orange boxes at the top of the portfolio page: https://www.globalbrandsmatter.com/dynamic-portfolio

In this months update, I talk about the month and YTD of the brands equity strategy, what worked by sector and style box as well as how each brand we own is performing as a stock and how its performing fundamentally. I also talk about what we expect for the rest of the year and into next weeks elections and how to play any weakness we see. For more information about the fund or investing in Mega Brands: ⁠⁠https://www.globalbrandsmatter.com/dynamic-portfolio⁠⁠

In today's episode, I cover the month of September and Q3 returns for the Brands Fund, the markets, sectors, and the brands we own. I talk about the active trading environment and using volatility to enhance returns to the core, buy-hold portfolio of great brands. I also cover the health of the consumer and how we see consumer spending developing through the holidays. Bottom line: Investors should expect more volatility over the next 4-5 weeks. Great for traders, not so great for investors....

In today's August Dynamic Brands Update, I talk about the market returns along with what styles & sectors are doing YTD. I talk about the global brands portfolio, winners & laggards. I also highlight how crowded tech and semiconductor exposures are currently and how hated consumer stocks are. That's a wonderful contrarian signal. I talk about the health of the consumer, different income cohorts, and the general sentiment amongst consumers. I end with the risks we see in markets and...

Today I discuss the volatility in markets today, the July & August rout in equities. I highlight the "everything else" trade and if it has legs and talk about our focus on quality. I talk about the brands portfolio, allocation shifts, where we added and what's performing or lagging. I end with my views on the consumer and how and where they are feeling and spending. You are getting an opportunity to buy some of the most dominant, relevant companies driving global growth on sale today. Use...

I discuss the quarter and YTD p[eriod for the brands portfolio as wlel as overall markets and what worked and didn't work. I also talk about the worlds largest crowded trade, an overweight to tech, semiconductors and AI stocks and offer a potential catalyst that could force some capital away from the crowded trades and in to everything else. For more information on investing in global brands: https://www.globalbrandsmatter.com/dynamic-portfolio

I discuss the overall market, rates, inflation, economic data and the global brands we own. I also highlight which sectors and style boxes are performing and lagging. I spend a little time talking about the consumer and the massive amount of capital at their disposal that flows to the consumption theme. This is a great market update and highlights the power of investing in global brands and the consumption thematic. https://www.globalbrandsmatter.com/dynamic-portfolio

In today's April and YTD update I discuss what we see in equity markets, how top global brands are performing, what we see for inflation, the Fed, rates, and how to navigate this turbulent market. Brands matter more than ever when rates and inflation stay higher for longer!

We love the luxury goods category and LVMH is a key core brand to own as the category leader. Q1 was solid and stable with core consumers engaging as always and some aspirational consumers pulling back a bit. Fashion & leather goods performed well, select retail-Sephora - was very strong. Sephora is clearly taking share from Ulta and Ulta's stock reflects it. The stock is cheap relative to the peer group and itself and fits all the important style factors to own in this kind of "higher...

I cover Q1 Dynamic Brands performance, lots of stock, sector, style box return info as well as how we see consumer spending playing out the rest of the year and where we are allocated to benefit from this spending. I talk about inflation, interest rates, the quality style factor, and where we see sticky inflation regardless of what the Fed or gov't tell us. Enjoy!

MANU is one of the most recognized and valuable sports brands in the world. This club is worth much more with a new owner, strategy, players, stadium, and a debt refinancing. All of this is possible with the new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliff and the stock is down 46% from the recent highs making the entry point much more attractive IMO. Here's what I see. This is NOT advice. Do your own research, make your own decisions.

A February 2024 and YTD Dynamic Brands & Market update. I also talk about the active trading environment and the net gains taken for the month with all the stats. For more info on investing in Mega Brands: https://www.globalbrandsmatter.com/dynamic-portfolio

Here's our January 2024 market and global brands update. I talk about the market overall, the brands portfolio in specific, and the results of the active trading we did inside the fund for January. Active trading can be a wonderful addition to a core, buy-hold portfolio when executed well. In an algo and 0DTE (zero days to expiration) options focused market, volatility will always be present making it something to focus on for clients. For more information on the brands fund and portfolio...

Todays episode talks about the energy markets, energy stocks, and where there could be opportunities for investors and even traders. I check in with energy expert, Paul Sankey, of SankeyResearch.com We talk about the integrated oils, oil services, refiners, and LNG. Paul is such a great chat because he has such a great grasp of energy markets, M&A, production, and the stocks. Check out his site: https://sankeyresearch.com/

With >20,000 stores worldwide, Domino's is the largest Pizza company in the world. The stock has a strong history of beating the S&P 500 over time yet its lagged over the last few years due to a tough 2022. With store growth set to accelerate and operating efficiencies taking hold, we think the stock is a solid mean reversion opportunity in 2024 and beyond.

TJX, Marshalls, Home Goods, and Sierra is a >$100B retail brand that has compounded at a above-market rate for many decades. With over 3500 stores worldwide, this model can keep growing over time. Solid management team that is always looking for new, interesting concepts and strong capital allocation decisions at the core. The stock is well positioned for today's stingy consumer spending environment. For more information on investing in leading...

In today's episode, I discuss the 2023 Brands Fund returns, what worked, and what we expect for 2024. I highlight the Mega Brands returns, the mean reversions that still are likely to come and what a goldilocks scenario looks like using 53 years of market returns at different Fed Funds and inflation regimes. To get more information on how to invest in the brands that matter most: https://www.globalbrandsmatter.com/dynamic-portfolio

Travel has always been a very important spending category for consumers globally. Post pandemic, we still see strong travel demand and better profitability for key online travel platform Expedia, EXPE. Through Expedia brands like VRBO, Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Hotwire, CarRentals.com, and Homeaway, Expedia is getting its mojo back. There's a huge gap between the market cap of EXPE and its two key peers, Booking and AirBnb. As Expedia gets back on track and the industry continues to...

In today's quick video, I discuss our allocation to a more defensive, stable consumer spending industry, auto parts and retail auto maintenance via the two leaders, Autozone and O'Reilly Automotive. I'm sure you have seen each brand in your community. AZO has 7165 stores and ORLY has 6111 stores so they are well represented in most communities. They have been strong compounders as stocks in a very important but boring industry making them solid investments over time. For more info on how...

Eli Lilly has been a monster stock over the last 5 years. It's compounded at 40%+ a year versus the market at roughly 11%. This great biopharma brand spends $6B a year on R&D, organically grows well, grows the dividend 15% a year and has a full pipeline thats diverse. This management team is second to none. The stock is not cheap anymore and it's a bit crowded but long-term we see great things for this brand. Mounjaro and Tirzepatide get alll the attention given their blockbuster...

Mr Softy has been a monster stock for over 40 years. The business is incredibly stable and predictable and management continues to keep innovating and growing. We see nothing that changes that on the horizon. The Mega Brand core equity position is still intact. Cloud and AI is driving the growth now and we are still early days in that opportunity. The small dividend grows each year and the stock has performed well in most economic environments. When it gets clocked, as every company does on...

Apple could be the greatest consumer tech staple ever created. Sometimes we feel like we can't live without our phones, laptops, and airpods. Apple embodies everything a Mega Brand should be: high brand love, innovator of products and services we love and can't live without, globally dominant, demographically diverse consumer base, super strong balance sheet and quality management team. Would you expect a business described like this to trade at or below a market multiple? I certainly...