Core profit margin still over 30% in brutal markets
AUM fell 15% in H1-23, from £22.1bn on 1 Apr 22 to £18.8bn on 30 Sep 22. Unsurprisingly, given the widespread sell-off in equities, investment performance accounted for -£2.1bn of the fall, with net outflows of -£0.8bn, and the closure of the Phaeacian funds in the US -£0.5bn.• Despite gloomy markets, there are multiple positive signals and signs of management confidence:
• Positive net inflows were recorded in multiple funds, including Global Insurance, Biotechnology, Healthcare Blue Chip, Smart Energy, European ex-UK Income, Emerging Market Stars, Forager and Global Absolute Return, and net outflows from open-ended Technology funds have slowed.
• Polar has reported a strong pipeline of investor interest in multiple strategies, and that the short list of new potential investment teams is larger than for many years.
• The board has declared an interim dividend of 14.0p per share, unchanged from H1-22 (if the total full-year dividend is maintained at 46p, that would be a yield of 9.7% at today’s share price).
• Directors’ have made over £2.2m of share purchases, in cash, during 2022.
We maintain confidence in the strength of Polar’s strategic positioning, and that it is well positioned to return to growth, despite significant short-term uncertainty.
Our fundamental valuation is 600p per share, 27% above the current share price, and we flag that Polar’s PER of 9.3, is undemanding and below a peer group median of 10.0.
Polar Capital Holdings is an investment management company providing professional and institutional investors a range of geographical and sector funds. Co. manages 25 funds and four managed accounts across a range of long only and alternative products. Co. has one class of business, being the provision of investment management and advisory services. As of Mar 31 2017, Co. had total assets under management of £9.27 billion.
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