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IPO Watch

IPO debut of SSH Group fetches 30% gain on listing

The issue was open for retail investors from 30th July, 2021 to 27th August 2021. GTT Ventures and Taurus Capital Group were appointed as lead managers. 

The company also offered 20,500,000 shares as Vendor offer, 3,250,000 shares as convertible note share offer, 7,000,000 shares as option offer to advisers and 10,000,000 shares as option offer to executives. 

The proceeds of the funds are said to be used mainly for purchasing capital equipment for site services, paying out short-term debts and for offers and acquisition.

SSH shares were listed on ASX on 17th September, 2021 and delivered a decent listing gains of 30% by opening at AU$0.265. The demand on first day led the stock to surge to a high of AU$0.295, garnering a volume of over 5.82 million. The market capitalization of SSH Group comes to be at AU$ 14.36 million and the enterprise value is AU$ 10,106,977. 

SSH Group has identified myriad opportunities for future growth and expansion of the divisions in Western Australia. It estimates that there is over $39.3 billion of market revenue that is not serviced by major players in the operating industries. It currently possesses total clients beyond 100.

About the company:

The company provides a range of safety and people services, including security, labour hire, and road safety services, to the construction, mining, civil and government market sectors in Western Australia. It was founded in Australia and headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. Currently it has the workforce of 700 plus people. The main purpose of the SSH Group is to improve outcomes for Australian projects and communities.

 (Source: asx.com.au, sshgroup.com.au)

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.

Categories
IPO Watch

IPO debut of SSH Group fetches 30% gain on listing

The issue was open for retail investors from 30th July, 2021 to 27th August 2021. GTT Ventures and Taurus Capital Group were appointed as lead managers. 

The company also offered 20,500,000 shares as Vendor offer, 3,250,000 shares as convertible note share offer, 7,000,000 shares as option offer to advisers and 10,000,000 shares as option offer to executives. 

The proceeds of the funds are said to be used mainly for purchasing capital equipment for site services, paying out short-term debts and for offers and acquisition.

SSH shares were listed on ASX on 17th September, 2021 and delivered a decent listing gains of 30% by opening at AU$0.265. The demand on first day led the stock to surge to a high of AU$0.295, garnering a volume of over 5.82 million. The market capitalization of SSH Group comes to be at AU$ 14.36 million and the enterprise value is AU$ 10,106,977. 

SSH Group has identified myriad opportunities for future growth and expansion of the divisions in Western Australia. It estimates that there is over $39.3 billion of market revenue that is not serviced by major players in the operating industries. It currently possesses total clients beyond 100.

About the company:

The company provides a range of safety and people services, including security, labour hire, and road safety services, to the construction, mining, civil and government market sectors in Western Australia. It was founded in Australia and headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. Currently it has the workforce of 700 plus people. The main purpose of the SSH Group is to improve outcomes for Australian projects and communities.

 (Source: asx.com.au, sshgroup.com.au)

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.

Categories
Commodities Trading Ideas & Charts

Strong Thermal Coal Prices Poise New Hope for a Stellar Fiscal 2022

New Hope’s strategy seeks to create value for shareholders by remaining a pure-play coal miner and developing thermal coal assets at a time when major miners–including Rio Tinto and BHP-head for the exits. The strategy is entirely reliant on thermal coal demand remaining robust for decades. The purchase of a further 40% interest in the Bengalla coal mine in fiscal 2019 sees New Hope double down on thermal coal. Total coal production to reach 21.2 million metric tons of run-of-mine, or ROM, thermal coal by fiscal 2023, up from 14.8 million metric tons in fiscal 2018.

While demand for coal has waned in Europe and North America, Asia will remain the relative bright spot for coal demand over the coming decades, according to the International Energy Agency. The IEA sees the possibility that coal demand in absolute tonnage terms could remain steady out to 2040 in Asia, as economic development supports demand. Nonetheless, the potential for greater action on climate change brings the distinct risk that demand could falter earlier.

On the operational front, we’re encouraged by efforts to expedite the realisation of value from New Hope’s assets, given thermal coal’s uncertain future. Bengalla has approval to produce up to 15 million ROM metric tons annually greater than the approximate 12.4 million ROM metric tons mined in fiscal 2020. Capital expenditures required to de-bottleneck the mine and expedite the mining of Bengalla’s reserves are currently being explored. 

Financial Strength

 New Hope’s balance sheet remains well positioned. We view New Hope’s bias toward a conservative balance sheet as appropriate. The volatile nature of coal prices makes the use of significant debt problematic. The balance sheet currently sits in a modest net debt position of AUD 73 million at the end of fiscal 2021. Gearing and leverage remain conservative. We forecast net debt/equity of 2% and net debt/EBITDA of approximately 0.07 times at fiscal 2022 year-end. As such, substantial headroom exists relative to New Hope’s leverage covenant–calibrated at 2.75 times net debt/EBITDA. Our base case factors a long-term coal price of USD 69 per metric ton and the first AUD 200 million of New Acland stage 3 development capital expenditure in fiscal 2022.

Bulls Say 

  • Asia’s growth will see demand for coal in the region remain steady for decades to come. 
  • New Hope’s operating assets enjoy decent positioning on the global thermal coal cost curve. 
  • The ramp-up of production at Bengalla toward 15 million ROM metric tons per year could provide better unit costs.

Company Profile

New Hope Corporation is an Australian pure-play thermal coal miner. Its two operating assets–the 100%-owned New Acland coal mine and its 80% interest in the Bengalla coal mine–produce a cumulative 12 million metric tons of salable thermal coal annually. The vast majority of New Hope’s production is sold into seaborne thermal coal export markets. Reserves at New Acland and Bengalla are sufficient to support multi-decade mine lives. New Hope’s undeveloped coal resources are extensive and include exploration status coal resources in excess of 1 billion metric tons in Queensland’s Surat basin.

 (Source: Morningstar)

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.

Categories
Funds Funds

During equity market sell-offs, Man AHL Alpha provided downside protection

 The strategy’s research program is driven by teams from other asset classes or themes (Specialist Strategies, Portfolio Management, Equities, Fast Strategies and Core Strategies) who are responsible for their respective models (existing and new models). The portfolio managers of the AHL Alpha Program are Matthew Sargaison, Co-CEO of Man AHL and Russell Korgaonkar, CIO of Man AHL.  

Investment Process 

The Strategy invests in approximately 500 international markets across a range of sectors, utilizing instruments such as securities, futures, options, forward contracts, swaps, CFDs and other financial derivatives. The Strategy can also gain exposure to sectors via stocks, debt, bonds, currencies, short-term interest rates, energies, metals, credit and agriculture.

Historical low correlation to traditional assets classes such as equities and bonds

Given the focus on Diversification, capital is allocated using a quantitative and systematic methodology to maximise diversification and avoid investment style bais. This aims to deliver low correlation to traditional assets such as equities and bonds.

Solid Performance 

Historically, the fund has delivered strong returns in equity market selloffs, albeit past performance is not an indicator of future performance, it is an indicator that the strategy has performed in the past. The fund delivered significant downside protection during market sell-offs – Covid – 19 market selloffs +5.8 per cent v/s S&P 500 Index -19.6 per cent v/s MSCI World -19.6 percent, fourth quarter in 2018 selloff +3 percent v/s S&P 500 Index -13.5 percent v/s MSCI World -12.9 percent, Eurpean debt crisis +5.3 percent v/s S&P 500 -13.8 percent v/s MSCI World -15.4 percent and GFC +25 percent v/s S&P 500 Index -49.2 percent v/s MSCI World -49.3 percent.

Downside Risks

  • Significant turnover in the Broader Investment team.
  • Investment strategy (trading systems) fails to yield alpha.
  • Uses of derivatives and leverage adds additional risks and complexity.

Investment Approach 

Fund Performance

Figure 1: Fund performance (as ofAug-21)–strategy has an absolute return target

(%)Fund (net)
1-mths+0.0%
Year-to-date (YTD)+6.5%
1-year+10.4%
3-year (p.a.)+7.3%
5-year (p.a.)+4.3%
Inception (p.a.)+5.2%
Annualised volatility 8.8%

Source: Man Group

About the Fund

The fund employs a systematic, statistically based investment strategy to exploit technical or price driven signals across a diverse range of global markets. The main strategy used in trend following i.e price trends (up or down) repeatable pattern ~ 500 international markets the fund can access. The portfolio invests in instruments such as Securities, Futures, Options, Forward contracts, Swaps, CFD and other derivatives, the strategy has an absolute return focus with target volatility of 10% p.a.

Company Profile 

Man group is a global investment manager offering investors a diverse range of specialist active strategies and manages over US$135 billion globally. The company has headquarters in London but a globally network of offices. The company employs an extensive team of scientists, technologies and financial professionals.

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.

Categories
Fixed Income Fixed Income

Janus Henderson Tactical Income Fund: An absolute return fund aiming to outperform benchmark

Two young women talking together with a tablet in the living room. They sit spaced apart to prevent the virus.

that makes tactical asset allocation decisions between cash, duration, and higher yielding investments to produce returns in both rising and sliding bond yield environments.. The strategy aims to outperform the Benchmark in terms of net total return over rolling three-year periods by investing primarily in Australian fixed income securities.

Investment Philosophy + Process:

The Manager believes that taking a flexible approach to asset allocation allows the team to better manage fixed interest exposure and enhance returns depending on market.

The Fund’s investment and portfolio construction process consists of:

Stage 1: Strategy Formulation: The team ranks the active duration and credit positions of their core Australian Fixed Interest Income strategy. 

Stage 2: Risk Calibration: Determine asset allocation using the ranking. 

Stage 3: Implementation: Invest in range of cash, fixed interest and higher yielding securities, based on investments decisions from the following:

  • Interest rates: (holding longer duration securities versus shorter-dated paper).
  • Sectors:  (government securities versus non-government given the risk premium).
  • Securities: (given the underlying risk/reward, select appropriate non-government securities). 

Portfolio Characteristics:

Portfolio Characteristics                              Details
Benchmark50% Bloomberg Composite 0 + 50% Bloomberg Bank Bill
Alpa target p.a.n.m (pree –fees)1.0%
Minimum suggested time frame3 years
Alpha source30% Rates + 30% Sector / Security selection + 40% Asset Allocation
Minimum weighted average credit qualityBBB

(Source: Janus Henderson)

Investment team:

The Janus Henderson Australian fixed interest team, headed by Jay Sivapalan, is highly experienced and well resourced. 

The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are factored into the credit decision-making process. The Manager adheres to the “quality before price” attitude, and hence considers ESG factors to be critical in their four-pillar bottom-up credit analysis. The four pillars are as follows:

  • Competitive Advantage and Industry Dynamics 
  • Financial Risk 
  • Management Profile 
  • ESG Risk

Asset and sector allocation:

C:\Users\Akhila\Downloads\TODAY 2.png

(Source: Janus Henders)

 Fund Performance(as of august2021:net) and current positioning:

PercentageFundBenchmarkOutperformance
1-month-0.09%0.05%-0.14%
3-month0.15%1.28%-1.13%
6-month0.74%2.11%-1.37%
1-year1.28%0.56%+0.72%
3-year (p.a.)2.60%2.68%-0.08%
5-year (p.a.)2.60%2.28%+0.32%
Inception4.72%3.93%+0.79%


(Source: Janus Henderson)

Credit Process:

C:\Users\Akhila\Downloads\credit process.png

(Source: Janus Henderson)

Downside Risks:

  • Investment strategy selection fails to yield alpha.
  • Lead PM departsor significant turnover in the broader investment team
  • Manager fails to make the right duration (short or long) call over an extended period of time. 
  • Credit and interest rate risk

Company Profile:

Janus Henderson is a worldwide asset management company with over 340 investment experts who specialise in all major asset types. Its individual, intermediary, and institutional clients come from all over the world and entrust it with over $500 billion in assets. Over the course of market cycles, Janus Henderson’s commitment to active management allows customers to outperform passive strategies. Its managers use their skills to analyse risk vs reward potential in times of both market calm and growing uncertainty, ensuring customers are on the right side of change.

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.

Categories
Funds Funds

The Fund provides investors an opportunity to diversify and distil grow

the portion of return attributed to the S&P/ASX 20 Leaders Index, by 4% p.a. after fees on a rolling 3-year basis. The Fund invests primarily in Australian shares with high quality business models, strong growth, and underestimated earnings momentum and prospects.

Portfolio 

This strategy looks very different from the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index. First, it has traditionally held a significant stake in midsize and larger companies excluding the top 20.Bennelong believes it can capitalise on mispricing through superior fundamental research. The pronounced growth leaning also contributes to this vehicle’s differentiated look. It has traditionally led to an (unsurprising) aversion to the property trust, consumer staples, and utilities sectors. That said, A-REITs have featured on occasion, such as in mid-2019. Consumer discretionary, technology, and healthcare stocks are typically favoured, the attraction being both cyclical and structural growth. This is usually the source of the portfolio appearing expensive relative to the benchmark and peers. The search for growth can lead to mistakes; in such events, liquidity in small-cap names can reduce nimbleness for this strategy given its large asset base. The team is not averse to altering large positions quickly when its view on earnings growth changes. For instance, in early 2021, Bennelong cut the 10% allocation in Afterpay when business execution disappointed and competition increased. This fund is best used in a supporting player role. The firm manages around AUD 8.8 billion, including AUD 4.6 billion in this strategy as of 30 April 2021.

Performance 

The long-term performance at Bennelong is strong. Given the strategy excludes the 20 largest Australian companies, the portfolio has a larger-cap feel than more-dedicated small-cap offerings. As a result, performance comparisons against its equity Australia mid/small-growth Morningstar Category peers should be undertaken cautiously. Bennelong outdid the index and most peers during 2015 and the first half of 2016 thanks to such positions as Domino’s and Aristocrat Leisure. The second half of 2016 was a stumble for Bennelong (and many peers), as resources and value stocks outperformed. The following two years saw it ride the highs of stocks like Treasury Wine Estates, Costa Group, and BWX only to abruptly see their share prices plummet contributing to middling years of performance. Mark East cut the first two names but held BWX as better fundamentals were expected. More recently, 2019 delivered average returns, as Corporate Travel Management detracted while Goodman Group added significant value as investors supported its industrial real estate exposure. However, longtime holdings in James Hardie, IDP Education, and Domino’s delivered in spades in 2020 as the market sought quality growth companies and the fund blazed past both the index and peers. Together with Fisher & Paykel healthcare, Bennelong has continued its outstanding run into the first half of 2021.

Source: Mornigstar

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.

Categories
Fixed Income Fixed Income

Fund provides a solid offering to those clients seeking to manage their Fixed Interest

ESG screens and bottom-up fundamental analysis. The ESG philosophy is based on the view that sustainability and/or ethical screens improve the quality and robustness of the portfolio. This is because companies scoring high on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) dimensions will likely have lower systematic risks and regulatory risks from adverse ESG events. The Fund aims to exceed the benchmark returns (before fees and expenses) by 0.75% p.a. over rolling 3-year.      

Opinion

  • Well respected Fixed Interest team and experienced Portfolio Managers. The Pendal Income and Fixed Interest team is well resourced and led by the well-respected Vimal Gor, who is Head of Income and Fixed Interest at Pendal. The strategy is managed by Portfolio Manager George Bishay and Co-PM Timothy Hext, both with extensive experience in fixed interest markets. In terms of sustainable philosophy and screening processes, Edwina Matthew (Head of Responsible Investments) assists the team.
  • Access to inhouse equity research team adds competitive advantage to bottom-up fundamental research on issuers. Bottom fundamental research on issuers and financial modelling to identify investment opportunities and avoiding deteriorating credits. Access to the Pendal Australian Equities team and CreditSights, a third-party global research house, are important components in the process
  • Economic + Market + Technical models. The Manager feels their competitive edge comes from focusing on economic quant models, market quant models and technical models within a global context which help determine future direction of markets. These factors working in tandem and then the overlay ESG screens leads, in the manager’s view, a far superior portfolio composition   

Investment Philosophy 

Philosophy. The Fund’s core belief is that markets are inefficient, and that active management can improve risk and return. The ESG philosophy is based on the view that sustainability and/or ethical screens improve the quality and robustness of the portfolio. This is because companies scoring high on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) dimensions will likely have lower systematic risks and regulatory risks from adverse ESG events.

Portfolio Construction

The portfolio construction process is driven by the output from the macro input stage (top-down view on duration and yield curve), credit spreads and sector allocations (government vs credit, sector over/under weights within credit (defensive versus cyclical sectors). The portfolio construction process also gives considerations for correlation with existing securities, issuer/sector diversification, concentration, position sizing, liquidity, hedging, tracking error, and valuation.

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.

Categories
Global stocks Shares

Invocare solid 1H21 results reflect profits of $44m, a turnaround from -$18m loss

Investment Thesis 

We rate IVC as a Neutral for the following reasons:

  • Trades in-line with our blended valuation (DCF / PE-multiple). IVC is currently trading on a 12-mth blended forward PE-multiple of 36.4x and 1.7% dividend yield. 
  • IVC continues to be impacted by Covid-19 and associated lockdown/containment measures.
  • Potential for increased death rates.
  • Continued cost control from strategic review and operational efficiency.
  • IVC benefits from demographics and long-term population growth.
  • IVC holds leading market positions in its core markets.
  • IVC has strong cash flow conversion and generation.
  • High barrier to entry with quality assets and business model that is difficult to replicate.  
  • Increased competition from budget operators in Australia.

Key Risks

We see the following key risks to our investment thesis:

  • Continued reduction in death rate compared to expectations/forecasted trend.
  • Increased competition especially around pricing.
  • Protect and Grow 2020 does not yield incremental returns as anticipated.
  • Underperformance of funds under management.

1H21 Results Highlights 

Relative to the pcp: 

  • Statutory Revenue of $260.9m, up +13%. 
  • Operating Revenue of $257.3m, up +13%. 
  • Operating EBITDA of $63.6m, was up +31% with IVC returning to positive operating leverage. 
  • Operating EBIT of $39.4m, was up +46%. 
  • Reported Profit After Tax of $44m, compared to a Reported Loss After Tax of $18m in the pcp. Operating EPS of 14.4cps, was up +57%. 
  • IVC retained a strong balance sheet with cash of $131.2m and net debt of $124.7m. Capital management metrics improved with leverage ratio of 1.1x, strong cashflow conversion of 102% and ROCE of 10.4%, up 1.8 points on FY20.
  • The Board declared an interim fully franked dividend of 9.5cps, up 73% over the pcp and equates to a dividend payout ratio of 66%, within IVC’s preferred dividend payout range.

Company Description  

InvoCare Ltd (IVC) is the largest private funeral, cemetery and cremation operator in the Asia Pacific Region. It has leading market positions in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

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.

Categories
Property

ALE’s Earnings Growth Likely to Slow on Reversion to CPILinked Rent Increases and Property Sales

 a diversified portfolio of 86 pub and bottle-shop properties on long leases to Australia’s largest pub and drinks operator. All properties are leased to Australia’s largest pub operator, Endeavour Group. The tenant, Endeavour, was spun out of Australia’s giant supermarket chain Woolworths.

A feature of the leases are their long terms, with most leases starting in November 2003 for a 25-year initial term, with the tenant also having four 10-year options to renew. …ALE benefits from these investments via increased valuations and from market rent reviews in 2018 and 2028. The 2018 rent reviews were subject to a cap and floor of 10% but the 2028 reviews are uncapped. In other years, ALE receives contracted rents that grow in accordance with the consumer price index. Most leases are also on attractive triple-net terms, where the tenant is responsible for most operating costs (other Queensland land tax) and capital expenditures.

Endeavour’s hotel and bottle-shop earnings have grown significantly above the consumer price index since November 2003. Along with other characteristics, independent valuers typically assess market rents at 35%-45% of EBITDA (before rent). 

Company’s Future outlook

We expect strong continued earnings growth at its properties, supported by strong population growth and our view that authorities would have a bias toward existing operators in approving liquor and gaming licences, making it more difficult for new entrants.

There is a high degree of uncertainty about the outcome of the 2028 reviews as they will depend on things like interest rates and the regulatory environment at the time. Although our base case is for a positive uplift in rents at the 2028 reviews, there are several risks that could negatively affect pub earnings, including adverse changes in gambling and liquor regulation.

Financial Strength

ALE Property Group is in solid financial health. Credit metrics appear aggressive-net debt/EBITDA over 9 times and interest cover of just 2.4 times-but we are comfortable giving highly defensive revenue under long-term leases to a strong tenant. ALE has been reducing its gearing (net debt/total assets less cash) from 65.2% at the end of fiscal 2008 to 36% in June 2021, well below covenant limit of 65%. Our base case assumes ALE maintains gearing at around current levels. Cap rate compression combined with CPI-linked rental increases has seen fair values of properties increase significantly from fiscal 2014. ALE has no major debt maturities until August 2022 (AUD 150 million), followed by November 2023 (AUD 150 million not including CPI increases). Of net debt, 100% is hedged until November 2025 to mitigate against interest-rate risk. ALE has an investment-grade credit rating of Baa2 (negative outlook) from Moody’s.

Bulls Say

  • The REIT enjoys stable income underpinned by long term inflation-linked leases with a strong tenant.
  • There is major potential upside to rental income from capped market rent reviews currently underway and uncapped market rent reviews in 2028. 
  • Astute internal management has a good record of creating shareholder value.

Company Profile

ALE Property Group is an internally managed Australian real estate investment trust with a portfolio of 86 freehold pubs across Australia. It is a stapled entity comprising one trust and a company that acts as a responsible entity. The portfolio is valued at more than AUD 1 billion: 48% in Victoria, 31% in Queensland, 14% in New South Wales, and small exposures to South Australia and Western Australia. All properties are leased to Australia’s largest pub operator, Endeavour Group.

 (Source: Morningstar)

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.

Categories
ETFs ETFs

Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF: A great core bond holding

U.S.-dollar-denominated investment-grade bond market and harnessing the market’s collective wisdom about the relative value of each bond by weighting bonds according to their market value. This is a sound approach because it promotes low turnover, limits credit risk, and is cost-effective, and because the market does a decent job pricing these bonds. The index weights its holdings by market value and is rebalanced monthly. This yields a conservative portfolio, which limits its return potential but also cuts downside risk and makes for a good complement to stock holdings.

Portfolio:

This portfolio mimics the contours of the taxable U.S. investment-grade bond market, engendering a conservative portfolio relative to the intermediate core bond category average. The fund typically courts a similar amount of interest-rate risk, but as of September 2021, its average effective duration of 6.7 years was slightly higher than the category average, which stood at 6.0 years. U.S. Treasuries account for approximately 39% of this fund’s assets, giving the portfolio its conservative bend. Agency MBS and corporate bonds account for about 27% and 26% of the fund’s total assets, respectively.

People:

Schwab’s passive fixed-income portfolio management team has consistently provided tight index tracking performance. Its thoughtful portfolio construction process and continued investment in technology have distinguished it from the pack. Schwab has a narrower, simpler fund lineup than some of its larger peers, so its fixed-income index management team is smaller. However, it makes efficient use of its resources and is well-equipped to deliver cost-efficient and high-fidelity index tracking for the strategies it manages.

Performance:

The fund’s performance during the trailing 10 years through August 2021 has not been spectacular. It lagged the category average by 29 basis points annually. Although it exhibited slightly less volatility, ultimately its risk-adjusted performance (as measured by Sharpe ratio) ranked just outside of the category’s middle third. The fund also held up much better than category peers during the novel coronavirus-driven sell-off.

(Source: Factsheet from www.schwabassetmanagement.com)

Price:

Analysts find it difficult to analyse expenses since it comes directly from the returns. The fees levied by the share class is under cheap quintile. Analysts expect that it would be able to generate positive alpha relative to its benchmark index.


(Source: Factsheet from www.schwabassetmanagement.com)        (Source: Morningstar)

About ETF:

Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF SCHZ boasts a low fee and conservative portfolio, traits that make it a great core bond holding. The fund tracks the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which includes investment-grade U.S.- dollar-denominated bonds with at least one year until maturity. The index weights bonds by market value, tilting the portfolio toward the largest and most liquid issues. This approach also harnesses the market’s collective wisdom about the relative value of each security, a prudent approach for the long term. That said, bond-issuing activity influences the composition of this portfolio. Approximately 70% of the fund’s assets carried a AAA credit rating as of September 2021, while the category average was 57%. The fund’s category-relative performance will largely hinge on the performance of credit risky bonds.

(Source: Morningstar)

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.