At Comgest, we see the parallels between surfing and our own quality growth investment approach. Just as experienced surfers may wait hours before paddling out into the water and selecting a wave, we typically conduct years of fundamental research to determine whether a company meets our quality growth criteria. Liudmila Strakodonskaya, ESG Analyst, and Xing Xu, ESG Analyst / Portfolio Manager, detail how environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors fit into our research, investment selection and portfolio management process, spanning from India to the United States.

China’s late September stimulus measures took many investors by surprise. Misperceptions and fears have convinced many that China is no longer an investable market. Beyond the macroeconomic challenges and headlines, Comgest believes that China remains a great hunting ground for quality growth companies.

Financial metrics are crucial for evaluating a company’s value, but they don’t tell the whole story, writes ESG Analyst/Portfolio Manager Petra Daroczi. Human capital – the knowledge and skills people acquire throughout their lives – can be a significant competitive advantage, much like traditional capital expenditures on goods and services.

Europe’s largest companies are powering the MSCI Europe index, with market giants over €100bn contributing nearly 20% to returns. Despite challenges like inflation and geopolitical tensions, many have remained resilient. But what sets apart these companies from those that have hit their peak? Product Specialist Wolfgang Fickus dives into what makes these leaders stand out from the herd.

US equity investors all suffer from information overload. The growing number of companies they can invest in grows every year, each vying for capital and with many promising to be the next big thing. In the fast-changing US market, discover why we choose to pass by the short-term hype and focus on our long-term investment strategy.

How does M&A factor into the growth of compounders companies? Being a “marathon runner” requires more than just a venerable age (an average of 126 years in our portfolio). Over time, these companies have used their resilience and built up competitive moats yielding exceptional free cash and healthy balance sheets. By leveraging these elements, compounders seize on M&A opportunities to fuel future organic growth.