BB Biotech - A cutting-edge sector and a high dividend

BB Biotech (BION) offers investors exposure to the innovative, rapidly expanding biotech sector. BION is the largest biotech investor among its investment company peers. It invests in high-quality biotech assets that target substantial market opportunities. BION’s managers are optimistic about the outlook for the sector. They believe sentiment towards the sector should improve as interest rates peak and begin to decline. Meanwhile, they expect to see ongoing fundamental progress by portfolio hol

BB Biotech - Picking growth at good value

According to BB Biotech’s (BION’s) investment team, the biotech industry remains in a very good position. Following a sell-off in the last two years, valuations are still close to the levels seen three years ago, reflecting ongoing challenges and despite the fundamental industry strength. In the sector, BION is differentiated from the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index by its concentrated portfolio (c 30 stocks). The investment team anticipates that 2023 will include multiple catalysts for the sector an

BB Biotech - Great valuation potential

According to BB Biotech’s (BION) investment team, the biotech industry has never looked in such a good position. Following a sell-off in the last 18 months, a combination of fundamental industry strength and discounted valuations has recently attracted investors to return to the biotech market. In the sector, BION is differentiated from the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index by its concentrated portfolio (c 30 stocks) of what the investment manager, Bellevue Asset Management, believes to be best-in-clas

BB Biotech - Looking for innovation beyond the pandemic

BB Biotech (BION) provided a solid platform of growth for its investors in FY20, with Swiss franc share price and NAV total returns of 19.3% and 24.3% respectively, outperforming the Nasdaq Biotechnology index in NAV terms amid a weaker environment for the US dollar. While the fund’s investment in mRNA platform company Moderna (share price +509% over 12 months) was the standout story after the rapid development of its successful COVID-19 vaccine, the BION team has been focused on backing compani

BB Biotech - RNA focus provides a possible COVID-19 solution

BB Biotech (BION) recently updated the market on its views on the COVID-19 pandemic and how they are reflected in its portfolio (see video link below and the investor update). While direct exposure to infectious disease specialists in the portfolio is low, lead manager Daniel Koller expects a promising vaccine candidate could arise from one of the fund’s holdings in companies with RNA-based technologies (five RNA medicine-focused positions make up c 25% of the portfolio). The BION team recently

BB Biotech - Concentrated portfolio offering true differentiation

BB Biotech (BION) has continued the process of refocusing its portfolio on innovative smaller and mid-cap stocks, selling out of bigger names such as Novo Nordisk and Regeneron, and taking new positions in smaller stocks at the cutting edge of genetic medicine. The Switzerland-based fund retains a highly concentrated portfolio of c 30–35 stocks (and five to eight core holdings make up more than half of total assets), but has a broad spread of clinical indications and development stages. Lead Man

BB Biotech - Strong focus on emerging clinical areas

BB Biotech (BION) is a Switzerland-based closed-end fund focusing on the high-growth opportunities available in the global biotechnology space. Founded in 1993 by industry specialist Bellevue Asset Management, BION holds a concentrated (c 30–35 stocks) portfolio of biotech names, which are diversified across a range of clinical focuses. The fund’s strong record of NAV outperformance versus the headline NASDAQ Biotechnology index has suffered a setback in the past 12 months. However, the managers

BB Biotech - High-conviction specialist with impressive record

BB Biotech (BION) is a long-established (since 1993), Switzerland-based global investor in the innovative area of biotechnology. It is differentiated from peers by its short list of stocks (typically 30-35) and high-conviction approach, with five to eight core holdings accounting for half to two-thirds of the portfolio. While the fund can be vulnerable to short-term sentiment dips (such as in the period immediately before and after the US presidential election in 2016), its performance record is

Strong rebound for established specialist

BB Biotech (BION) is a long-established investor in biotech innovation, offering access to a concentrated portfolio of c 30 companies covering a range of therapeutic areas. It seeks to provide long-term capital growth, but also offers a yield of c 5% as a result of a capital distribution policy adopted in 2012. Performance has been strong both over the long term and more recently, with the fund ranking first among peers (in Swiss franc terms) over one and five years, and also outperforming the b

Sector specialist with high distribution policy

BB Biotech (BION) seeks to achieve long-term capital growth by investing in fast-growing biotech companies. A discount management programme adopted in 2012 allows it to return 5% of its value each year as a capital distribution, resulting in an unusually high yield (6.4% at 3 February) for a fund investing in a low-yielding sector. Biotech has performed strongly and BION has beaten the benchmark NASDAQ Biotech index in three of the last five years, although it has underperformed in a sharp sell-

Morning Note – 22 April 2024

Benefits of scale set to materialise

Frenkel Topping - Resilient with strong growth potential

FY 2023 was a challenging year for Frenkel with higher interest rates encouraging clients to place money into lower margin money market funds. Despite this, sales grew +32% (supported by recurring revenue +9% and +51% in non-recurring), EBIT margins remained strong at 22% and adj. EPS grew +17% (taking into account the higher number of shares). FY 2024 has seen a solid start to transactional business and there is a strong pipeline of new FUM opportunities both of which support further growth. Wi

Bluefield Solar Income Fund – Fundamentals shine despite discount

The manger comments that, in common with the other trusts in the renewable energy sector, the last six months have continued what has been a challenging period for the Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF). It adds that the trust’s ongoing fundamental performance has failed to reverse a steady slide in its share price which began back in May 2023. Despite this, it says the company has continued to deliver solid NAV growth and market-leading shareholder distributions thanks to a range of contractual

LSL Property Services (LSL LN) - Transformation & market recovery

2023 results are, as indicated in its February pre-close update, “slightly ahead of market expectations”. Current trading continues to improve, with 1Q24 underlying operating profit up yoy, “reflecting the benefits of the Group’s transformation programme completed in 2023 as well as improving market conditions.” With net cash of £35m at end 2023, the Board approved 7.4p final DPS and £7m buy back.

Henderson Far East Income - Repositioning to raise total returns

Henderson Far East Income (HFEL) has consistently delivered on its objective to provide a rising dividend. However, like many investors, HFEL’s managers overestimated the potential for a post-pandemic rebound in China. The trust’s resultant overweight to Chinese consumer and other cyclicals led to a fall in portfolio revenues and underperformance in the financial year ended 31 August 2023 (FY23). With a view to improving future returns, HFEL’s board has since indicated an increased willingness t

S&U - PBT ahead, encouraging volume trends

S&U reported FY24 PBT of £33.6m, down from £41.4m in FY23 on higher funding and regulatory costs and higher impairments in Advantage in H2. PBT was 2% ahead of our forecast as stronger revenues – up 12% to £115.4m – and better costs offset higher-than-expected impairments. Net receivables grew to a record at both Advantage and Aspen and management noted particular strength in Q4 and a good trading environment in the current year. Having absorbed a significant rise in funding cost as well as addi

Hardman & Co Insight: 2023 was an annus horribilis for Quoted UK Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The focus of Hardman & Co Research is on the nine quoted Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and on the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs): the stocks analysed are all members of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). We are updating our publication of January 2023, assessing both the lacklustre share price performances during 2023 and the key issues, including interest rates, inflation and power prices. As a 31-strong group, its combined market capitalisation is no

Foresight Solar Fund - Termination of coverage

Edison Investment Research is terminating coverage on ABC Arbitrage (ABCA), paragon (PGN), Foresight Solar Fund (FSFL), Kendrion (KENDR), Lithium Power International (LPI), Triple Point Energy Transition (TENT), 4iG (4IG), e-therapeutics (ETX), Pharnext (ALPHA) and Shield Therapeutics (STX). Please note you should no longer rely on any previous research or estimates for this company. All forecasts should now be considered redundant. Previously published reports can still be accessed via our web

International Public Partnerships - Consistently and responsibly delivering

International Public Partnerships’ (INPP’s) FY23 results show that it continues to deliver consistent and predictable returns for investors, while delivering environmental and social benefits for the individuals and communities that are served by its assets. Despite this strong performance and a substantial need for private infrastructure funding, the macroeconomic environment has weighed on INPP’s share price, in common with the wider sector. Regardless, attractive returns are available from th

LIBERUM: PensionBee: Strong start to the new financial year

LIBERUM: NewRiver: Q4 trading update: Continued operational momentum

Witan

Business as usual for WTAN’s executive team, while the board reviews investment management arrangements…

Regional REIT - Performing as expected ahead of refinancing

In a challenging market, Regional REIT’s (RGL’s) FY23 operational and financial performance was robust, in line with expectations and previous guidance. Investor focus remains on the company’s loan to value (LTV) reduction and bond refinancing plans, explored in detail in our previous note and RGL will provide an update on this in due course.

LIBERUM: PayPoint: On track for £100m of EBITDA in FY 26