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Category: Daily Instagraph

Depressed MAGA

By leon

Since Trump’s election, U.S. equities have lagged behind their international counterparts. While we leave politics to the politicians, it’s undeniable that political decisions—such as tariffs, global trade policies —impact the economy. So far in 2025, the S&P 500 has dipped 0.34%, while the MSCI Europe has surged 10.2%. The most speculative trades of the year … Continued

Toxic combo

By leon

In strong bull markets like the one we have been experiencing, a toxic combination inevitably emerges. Driven by greed, new “innovative” products are designed, blending speculation with leverage. When markets take a downturn, the resulting wealth destruction can be devastating for investors. A clear example: over just three negative trading sessions leading up to the … Continued

The return of the German SMID’s

By leon

A play on the German Mittelstand: the likely coalition between Merz and SPD as junior partner could get Germany out of the economic inertia. This could lead to a more growth-oriented agenda in Germany and address some structural issues in the economy. We believe one way to reflect this renewed hope is investing in Germany’s … Continued

Greatness

By leon

Berkshire Hathaway delivered a standout performance in 2024, reporting a net profit of $90 billion, a $3 billion stock repurchase, and a 15% segment margin—up 3 percentage points year-over-year—along with $53 billion in unrealized investment gains. In the fourth quarter, operating earnings surged 71% to $14.5 billion, fueled by a 48% jump in insurance investment … Continued

Last call

By leon

One last thought before the weekend—no need for lengthy explanations this time. The cover of The Economist says it all: NATO, the transatlantic defense alliance, is under serious strain, and Europe is increasingly on its own. This moment feels like a final wake-up call for Europe to unite if it wants to remain relevant—economically, politically, … Continued

Relative earnings upgrades

By leon

European equities have outperformed their U.S. counterparts since the start of the year, and this trend isn’t just driven by market sentiment, as illustrated in today’s graph. For the first time in two years, analysts have begun revising earnings forecasts for European companies upwards relative to their U.S. peers (white line). While the shift is … Continued

Playing defense

By leon

European defence stocks continue their strong rally as governments prepare for increased military spending. The Goldman Sachs European Defense basket reached a record high, reflecting growing investor confidence in the sector. We own Dassault Aviation, the producer of the Rafale fighters, as a 3.2% position in our European Value Fund and believe it still offers … Continued

Many IFs

By leon

European equities are still trading at a record valuation discount relative to the U.S., and history shows that when valuation gaps stretch too far, they don’t stay that way forever—the rubber band eventually snaps back, the problem is to know when. Add to that a more aggressive ECB easing cycle, a potential resolution in the … Continued

Not all about eggs

By leon

US inflation ticked up slightly, with headline rising from 2.9% to 3.0% and core from 3.1% to 3.3%. However, the details are less concerning—energy inflation turned positive, and core goods declined at a slower pace, while services inflation, the main driver, eased slightly. The biggest headline? Egg prices surged 13.8% due to a bird flu … Continued

Fooled by averages

By leon

The S&P 500 rarely delivers so-called “average” annual returns of 5-10%, as most years experience either substantial gains or notable losses. Historical data since 1950 ( source: Matt Cerminaro on LinkedIn ) shows that years within this range are the exception rather than the rule, making the long-term average somewhat misleading. Investors who expect steady, … Continued