High-conviction UK equity selections, deep value investing, and Barratt Redrow with Aurora UK Alpha
The UK Investor Magazine was thrilled to be joined by Kartik Kumar, Portfolio Manager of Aurora UK Alpha, to discuss the investment trust and its distinctive approach to UK equity investing.Find out more about Aurora UK Alpha here.In this episode, listeners will learn how Aurora applies time-tested investment principles from legends such as Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger to identify undervalued opportunities in the UK market.The discussion explores why Aurora sees compelling value in UK-listed companies, particularly those with domestic-focused business models that many investors are overlooking. You’ll learn about their rigorous research methodology for evaluating consumer-facing businesses and gain insights into their concentrated portfolio approach.Hear detailed case studies of key holdings, including why Barratt Redrow stands out in the competitive homebuilding sector and the strategic thinking behind Phoenix’s unusual takeover of funeral services provider Dignity. Kartik also discusses their patient investment philosophy – including their “propensity to do nothing” – and whether market volatility in 2025 prompted any new investment actions.The conversation concludes with their compelling case for why investors should consider Aurora UK Alpha in their portfolios, plus book recommendations for anyone interested in deepening their investment knowledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rapid growth in aesthetic treatments and skincare advice with The Tweakments Guide
The UK Investor Magazine was delighted to welcome Matthew Hindhaugh, CEO of The Tweakments Guide, to the podcast to delve into the company’s growth story and its current crowdfunding campaign.Find out more about the Tweakments Guide on Crowdcube here.The Tweakments Guide is a trusted UK platform offering expert, unbiased content on aesthetic treatments and skincare. Through articles, videos, a newsletter, social media and events we help consumers make informed choices, connect with top practitioners and buy skincare products.The aesthetics advice platform has achieved £389k revenue and £114k EBITDA in 2024 without external investment.Founded by management with deep experience in aesthetics journalism, the company addresses consumer confusion in the aesthetics market by providing trusted, comprehensive guidance on treatments and skincare options.Growth across all channels demonstrates strong consumer demand for unbiased advice in a sector where people fear making costly mistakes. The platform helps users navigate treatment choices based on their specific objectives and budget constraints. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Index-beating yields, BP v Shell, and navigating UK politics with Aberdeen Equity Income Trust
The UK Investor Magazine was thrilled to welcome Thomas Moore, Fund Manager of Aberdeen Equity Income Trust, to discuss the trust’s award-winning strategy and approach to achieving a high yield with a UK equity income mandate.The trust has earned AIC Dividend Hero status and won Best Income Trust at the Online Money Awards. The trust is among the best performing AIC equity income trusts over the past 52 weeks on a NAV growth basis while maintaining an attractive 6% yield.Find out more about Aberdeen Equity Income Trust here.The conversation begins by exploring Moore’s distinctive approach to UK equity investing and what sets Aberdeen Equity Income Trust apart from its peers. We delve into the trust’s index-agnostic approach to portfolio construction and how it enhances the trust’s payouts.Thomas provides his view on the current UK political environment and the implications for UK shares.Financials dominate the trust’s portfolio, Thomas explains the attraction of the sector and what the future holds. We explore portfolio companies including HSBC, BP, Coats and Ithaca Energy. Thomas also provides his view on the housebuilders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Increasing dividends and implementing AI to boost margins with Adsure Services
The UK Investor Magazine was delighted to welcome Vicky Davies, CFO of Adsure Services, to the podcast to discuss recent results and the outlook for the year ahead.Adsure Services revenues grew 7% in the year ended 31 March 2025, while EBITDA soared 35%.Strong financial performance driven by fresh contracts helped support a 15% increase in the dividend.Vicky outlines Adsure’s near-term plans and the expected benefits of deploying their proprietary AI tool later this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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US Tech Shares and the Rise of Agentic AI with Polar Capital Technology Trust
The UK Investor Magazine was thrilled to welcome Alastair Unwin, Deputy Manager of Polar Capital Technology Trust, to delve into the trust and its focus on the adoption of artificial intelligence.The Polar Capital Technology Trust aims to be at the forefront of this transition, seeking to identify and invest in the real drivers and beneficiaries of AI adoption – carefully navigating powerful technologies while positioning for long-term growth.Find out more about the Polar Capital Technology Trust here.Alastair outlined Polar Capital Technology Trust’s disciplined approach to investing in the technology sector, emphasising how the fund navigates the inherent challenges of a high-growth sector that’s often susceptible to market hype and speculation.The conversation explored the significant turbulence experienced by technology stocks in the first half of the year, followed by a strong recovery that pushed markets to new highs. Alastair provided insights into the underlying drivers of these movements, including macroeconomic factors, investor sentiment shifts, and sector-specific catalysts that influenced the dramatic market swings.A significant portion of the discussion focused on the market concentration within the “Magnificent Seven” technology stocks, several of which feature prominently in PCT’s top holdings. Alastair addressed the critical question of what market conditions and developments would be necessary to achieve broader market participation beyond these mega-cap technology leaders.Looking ahead to potential market broadening, Alastair highlighted specific investment opportunities that PCT is particularly excited about. The discussion covered sectors and companies positioned to benefit from a more diversified technology rally and the fund’s strategy for capitalising on these emerging themes.The podcast delved deep into the artificial intelligence investment theme, examining how returns have been predominantly driven by semiconductor companies and infrastructure providers – the “enablers” of AI. Alastair discussed the fund’s perspective on identifying the next wave of AI “beneficiaries” and highlighted early success stories beyond the traditional “picks and shovels” approach to AI investing.Drawing on recent earnings from technology giants Meta and Alphabet, the conversation addressed the “incumbent’s dilemma” and the massive AI-related capital expenditure commitments from hyperscale cloud providers. Alastair provided his assessment of whether current spending levels are justified by potential returns and market opportunities.The discussion explored PCT’s approach to measuring AI market health, including their analysis of AI tokens processed as a key barometer. Alastair explained what tokens represent in the AI ecosystem and outlined other metrics the fund monitors to gauge the sustainable growth of artificial intelligence applications.A forward-looking segment focused on Alastair’s views on “Agentic AI” as the next significant step toward Artificial General Intelligence. The conversation covered what distinguishes agentic AI systems, their potential applications, and the investment opportunities this evolution presents for technology investors.The podcast concluded with Alastair’s perspective on the most compelling aspects of investing in the AI era, discussing long-term trends and opportunities that have PCT particularly optimistic about the years ahead in technology investing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The UK Investor Magazine provides analysis and insight into the world of investing, covering shares, funds, private equity and alternatives. Hear from UK-listed business leaders and the professionals at the forefront of the UK investment industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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