Author: Aayushi Swami

Investment strategy 

The Fund uses a multi-step investment process for constructing the Fund’s investment portfolio that combines top-down sector allocation with bottom-up individual stock selection. Top-down sector allocation is determined through a systematic evaluation of listed and direct property market trends and conditions. Bottom-up stock selection is driven by proprietary analytical techniques to conduct fundamental company analysis, which provides a framework for security selection through an analysis of individual securities independently and relative to each other. Investment return objective The Fund aims to outperform (after management costs) the S&P/ASX 300 Property Accumulation Index over rolling three year periods.

Investment return objective 

The Fund aims to outperform (after management costs) the S&P/ASX 300 Property Accumulation Index over rolling three year periods.

 Downside Risks

• Deterioration in the Australian economy especially the property market (fundamentals deteriorate). Rising bond yields negatively impacting pricing. 
• The Portfolio Manager/analysts miss-calculate their bottom-up valuation 
• Key person risks in Mr. Pica (however, the CBRE investment team is relatively large and capable of succession planning). 

Fund Performance (as at 31 May 2021)

(Source: UBS)

Fund Positioning: Top 5 Holdings – Overweights & Underweights (as at 31 May 2021)

(Source: UBS)

Investment Process

The Fund uses an investment process that combines in-depth top-down and bottom- up fundamental market research with a disciplined and systematic approach to portfolio construction and risk management. The Portfolio Manager’s bottom-up approach integrates both quantitative and qualitative research to identify individual securities where the real estate is undervalued and represents the most compelling investment opportunities. The securities research process incorporates several factors including: 

• Property visits – the Portfolio Manager utilises its local presence to gauge the quality and location of the real estate, assessing properties and capital expenditure needs at the property level. 
• Management meetings – the Portfolio Manager assesses the management team’s alignment with shareholders; determines the depth and experience of the team; and judges their ability to articulate and execute their strategy. 
•  Modelling – the Portfolio Manager generates cash flow earnings projections; performs net asset value analysis; and analyses the capital structure. 

About the fund

The UBS Property Securities Fund (portfolio managed by CBRE while Distributed by UBS) is a portfolio of mainly Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts that the investment team believes are being undervalued by the market, based on the in-house assessment of the company’s future cashflows. The Fund aims to outperform (after management costs) the S&P/ASX 300 Property Accumulation Index over rolling five-year periods 

(Source: Banyantree)

General Advice Warning

Any advice/ information provided is general in nature only and does not take into account the personal financial situation, objectives or needs of any particular person.