Investor Summary
Fund Strategy
FUND PERFORMANCE AS OF 31st December 2025
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.8% | - | 3.1% |
| 2025 |
|---|
| 3.1% |
| ANNUALIZED SINCE INCEPTION | QUARTERLY | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.8% | - | 3.1% |
| 2025 |
|---|
| 3.1% |
LHC Capital High Conviction Fund returned 3.1% in 2025, underperforming their 10-15% annual target but significantly outperforming the Australian technology index which declined 20.8%. The fund benefited from nimble risk management during tariff-related volatility in Q2, deploying capital into quality businesses at attractive valuations. However, second-half performance was impacted by capital rotation away from technology into cyclicals and concerns around AI commoditizing software businesses. Top contributors included MA Financial (+81.4%), Life360 (+48.8%), and HUB24 (+39.1%), while detractors included Pro Medicus (-11.5%) and REA Group (-20.3%). Despite share price volatility, underlying business fundamentals across the portfolio grew meaningfully, improving prospective returns. The managers draw parallels to 2022's indiscriminate technology selling, expecting highest-quality businesses to recover first. Key themes include wealth management platform disruption, alternative asset management growth, and AI's enhancement rather than replacement of diagnostic imaging platforms. The fund maintains concentrated exposure to what they consider Australia's best businesses.
Focus on owning high-quality Australian businesses for long periods rather than timing market re-ratings, with particular emphasis on technology, wealth management platforms, and alternative asset managers that demonstrate strong competitive positioning and operational leverage.
The fund expects a similar outcome to 2022-2025 period where highest-quality businesses with strongest business models should recover first and perform best following the technology sell-off. They believe the Fund is well positioned to deliver attractive returns given exposure to what they consider the best businesses in Australia, with prospective return outlook having improved due to more attractive valuations.
| Date | Letter | Tickers | Keywords | Pitches | Quick Takes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23 2026 | 2025 Q4 | DBI.AX, HUB.AX, LIFE.AX, MAF.AX, NWL.AX, PME.AX, REA.AX, WTC.AX | AI, Australia, Concentration, Financial Services, Long/Short, Quality, technology, Wealth management |
MAF AU HUB AU PME AU DBI AU |
The fund discusses concerns around agentic artificial intelligence including circular financing structures, uncertainty regarding returns on increasing capital expenditure budgets, and fears that AI may… |
| QUARTER | THEMES | TAGS |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q4 |
AIAI has been integrated into RGA's research process through tools like NotebookLM, Gems in Gemini, and Claude Code. The firm views AI as a force multiplier for human judgment rather than a replacement, emphasizing the Kasparov Law principle. They believe the market narrative around AI displacement is swinging to unhelpful extremes, creating investment opportunities. |
Machine Learning Automation Software Productivity Innovation |
Alternative Asset ManagersMA Financial is viewed as an alternative asset manager experiencing strong momentum across its platform, particularly in Asset Management which drives long-term shareholder value. The company has invested ahead of the curve to build scalable operating platforms, with operating leverage becoming evident as revenues scale over a largely fixed cost base. |
Asset Management Operating Leverage Scalable Platforms Fee-earning Assets Financial Services | |
Wealth ManagementThe fund highlights the structural growth in wealth advisory despite declining numbers of financial advisers. Next generation wealth platform providers like HUB24 and Netwealth are capturing over 90% of incremental industry flows by offering modern platforms that enhance adviser efficiency and scalability, while incumbent providers have underinvested in systems. |
Wealth Platforms Financial Advisers Industry Flows Efficiency Scalability |
| Date | Pitch Type | Author | Ticker | Company | Industry | Sub Industry | Bull / Bear | Exchange | Keywords | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23, 2026 | Fund Letters | Stephen Aboud | MAF AU | MA Financial Group Ltd | Financials | Asset Management & Custody Activities | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | asset management, AUM, compounding, Margins, operating leverage | Login |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Fund Letters | Stephen Aboud | HUB AU | HUB24 Ltd | Financials | Capital Markets | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | Advisers, cash flow, operating leverage, Platforms, Wealth | Login |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Fund Letters | Stephen Aboud | PME AU | Pro Medicus Ltd | Health Care | Health Care Technology | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | AI, healthcare, market share, medical imaging, Software | Login |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Fund Letters | Stephen Aboud | DBI AU | Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd | Industrials | Transportation Infrastructure | Bull | New York Stock Exchange | cash flow, Contracts, inflation, infrastructure, Trading | Login |
| TICKER | COMMENTARY |
|---|---|
| DBI.AX | Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure made a strong contribution to the Fund's performance over the year, with shares rising by 45.7%. Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure is a high-quality infrastructure asset, owning a strategically important export terminal underpinned by long-dated, take-or-pay contracts with high-quality counterparties. The position has now been exited. |
| HUB.AX | Wealth platform provider HUB24 delivered a strong year of financial performance and operating execution. Shares in the company returned 39.1% over the calendar year. Over the course of the year, and following a detailed review of industry flow data, we formed the view that HUB24 has begun to pull ahead of Netwealth in competitive positioning and execution. |
| LIFE.AX | The Fund's top contributors for the year were MA Financial, Life360, Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure and HUB24, which rose by 81.4%, 48.8%, 45.7% and 39.1% respectively. |
| MAF.AX | diversified financial services company MA Financial Group +13% strengthened post the release of industry statistics showing strong momentum in non-bank lending |
| NWL.AX | For much of the year, the Fund held positions in both HUB24 and Netwealth. In the second half of the year, the Fund exited its position in Netwealth and redeployed the proceeds into HUB24. We remain surprised by the magnitude of the decline in Netwealth's share price, particularly given the continued operational strength of the business. |
| PME.AX | Pro Medicus experienced a disappointing share price outcome over the year, with the shares declining by 11.5%, despite another excellent year of business execution, continued contract wins and strong operational performance. We continue to believe the diagnostic imaging viewer will become the natural platform upon which artificial intelligence–enabled diagnostic tools are deployed. AI will not replace the viewer — it will sit on top of it. |
| REA.AX | In contrast, the Fund's largest detractors were Pro Medicus, REA Group and WiseTech Global, which declined by 11.5%, 20.3% and 43.3% respectively. |
| WTC.AX | In contrast, the Fund's largest detractors were Pro Medicus, REA Group and WiseTech Global, which declined by 11.5%, 20.3% and 43.3% respectively. |
| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Bought | Shares Bought | % Change | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Recent Buys Data | |||||
| Ticker | Put/Call | Amount Sold | Shares Sold | % Change | Weight % | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Recent Sells Data | ||||||
| Industry | Prev Quarter % | Current Quarter % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| No industry data available | |||