Equities

Factor investing has long explained market behavior, but its flaws—timing dependencies, rigid linearity, and backward-looking assumptions—limit predictive power. Can AI overcome these? This Expl(AI)ning episode dissects factor evolution, their pitfalls, and how machine learning enables dynamic models. Dive into quantitative investing’s future.

People and organizations demonstrate their moral compass in challenging conditions. In 1999, portfolio manager Ed Walczak made a tough call to stick to his investment principles. Despite the pressure to conform to the market trend, he chose to invest in undervalued insurance companies, a decision that paid off when the internet bubble burst.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming our world at breakneck speed to boost its users’ productivity gains in various industries. The associated need for innovation, resources, and infrastructure investments, reinforced by politics and demographics, positions the providers of convincing solutions as potential future winners.

Is the tech market’s bull run, much like a steamroller, starting to reverse course? Efficiency gains recently announced by DeepSeek have raised questionsabout the commoditization of LLMs and the potential overinvestment in data centers, shifts that could significantly impact the industry and investors.

The massive efficiencies achieved by DeepSeek’s recently launched Large Language Model have prompted investors to reevaluate the power, data center, and chip requirements for the development of AI models. As AI becomes more widely adopted, we identify companies poised to benefit.

Shares in Nvidia and ASML have plummeted due to concerns that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek's new model could disrupt the current AI business model. DeepSeek's R1 model, released on January 20, exhibits performance similar to top US large language models (LLMs), but at a fraction of the cost.

2025 is poised to be another positive yet complex year for equities. Balancing core positions in industries driven by secular trends – like semiconductors, AI hyperscalers, and the energy transition – with opportunistic exposures that can benefit from cyclical or policy-induced rebounds can help navigate the challenges ahead.

AI has dominated games like chess and Go, but the markets are far more complex. In our latest Expl(AI)ning article, we explore why investing’s complexity remains unmatched, where AI stands today, and what’s next for finance.

Watch the replay of our webinar featuring Jean Louis Nakamura, Head of Conviction Equities, Sarah Murray, Financial Times Contributor, and Marco Lenfers, Client Portfolio Manager, as they discuss key topics at the intersection of geopolitics, sustainability, and investment opportunities.

Despite US stocks' outperformance over international equities over the past two decades, investing solely in the US benchmark is not without risks. Yet we do not recommend investing indiscriminately in the broad international benchmark. Being selective and actively seeking out quality non-US companies can diversify portfolio risks and offer robust performance.

The new Trump administration’s policies evoke both optimism and apprehension among investors. This uncertainty is exacerbated by the pressures on the US consumer, high market concentration, and potential earnings disappointments. We highlight key themes we believe are worth watching in 2025.

Former investigative journalists tap into non-traditional sources to gather unique insights for our Quality Growth research team. This article highlights three case studies that led a portfolio manager to increase a position, sell a stock, and revisit the viability of a previous holding.

Gain an intuition on how complex AI architectures actually work. You will see that one model cannot fit all kinds of data. The key to solving problems with AI and surpassing mathematical challenges is to use the right model and the appropriate, high-quality data.

Discover how our Impact Investing team navigates economic shifts and political uncertainty to help drive sustainable change. In our sixth annual Impact Report, we reveal our strategies, methodologies, and results in investing in low-carbon solutions and smart infrastructure.

Explore the fascinating parallels between biological intelligence and artificial neural networks. This article dives into how AI mimics the brain’s neuron structures to solve complex problems, revealing the power of neural networks and their potential to reshape our understanding of intelligence and decision-making.

The mining industry is entering a green supercycle, driven by demand for metals and minerals needed for decarbonization. Despite increased competition and deeper mining, technological advancements are boosting productivity and reducing emissions. This presents compelling long-term investment opportunities in this evolving industry.

Watch our livestream where Jean-Louis Nakamura, Head of Vontobel Conviction Equities, hosts a discussion between Viktor Shvets, Head of Global Desk Strategy at Macquarie and Anthony Corrigan, Client Portfolio Manager, about the role that emerging market (EM) equities play in today’s global equity portfolio and what key factors need to be considered when building a resilient EM equity portfolio.

The forces driving today’s markets are making it especially hard for investors to find the right balance. How can investors tap into the burgeoning power of AI without taking too much risk? Learn how our Quality Growth team manages risk while maintaining a healthy equilibrium.

How do you manage the impact of market volatility driven by election outcomes? Matthew Benkendorf, CIO of our Quality Growth Boutique, shares ways to help mitigate risks and stay focused on business fundamentals that point to enduring quality.

A cleaner, more resource-efficient path to the future is clear. What's less discussed is the massive growth opportunity this presents for investors seeking to diversify their global equity portfolios. This article encourages global equity investors to rethink the role of environmental impact strategies in their portfolios.

As we navigate this historic US election, with its many twists and turns, our latest Quanta Byte explores how real-time data can be used to forecast outcomes and the potential effect of these outcomes on US equities.

Investors have been chasing their favorite AI names around the track, without considering how they could sustain their earnings growth for a prolonged period or through a recession. As long-term investors, we aim to remain focused on resilient companies with durable business models, which we believe will finish the race.

Quantitative Investments is beginning a series of monthly videos, each with an update on both systematic and hybrid aspects of investment approaches. Watch the latest updates.

Navigating challenging markets requires assessing earnings and revenue trends and digging into balance sheets. But financial metrics alone can be backward looking. A fundamental understanding of industries, companies, and markets can provide important insights that can help avoid hidden risks and identify overlooked growth drivers.