Connected Investor - The Brunner Investment Trust PLC Podcast

What makes a great investment? Is it the quality of the business, its potential to grow, or is it simply the price you pay… or a combination of all three?In this episode of Connected Investor, Brunner Investment Trust Portfolio Managers James Ashworth and Julian Bishop go behind the scenes of their stock-picking process to explore the three characteristics they look for in an investment: quality, growth and value.James and Julian discuss what gives a company a sustainable competitive advantage, why growth doesn't always translate into value creation and why value investing is about much more than simply buying stocks on low valuations. Using examples ranging from Apple and GE Aerospace to the airline industry, they explain why the strongest businesses can sometimes justify higher valuations, and why even a great company may not always represent a great investment.The conversation also explores how periods of uncertainty and market dislocation can create opportunities to find quality businesses at more attractive valuations, and why patience can be an important part of the investment process.Listen now for insights into how Brunner balances quality, growth and value when looking for long-term investment opportunities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Connected Investor, Brunner Investment Trust Portfolio Managers Julian Bishop and James Ashworth look back at previous capital cycles to explore what the past could teach present investors about the extraordinary levels of investment flowing into AI infrastructure today.From the iron ore supercycle driven by China's rapid industrialisation to the US shale revolution, Julian and James examine how rising demand and high profitability can encourage significant investment in new capacity, and how increasing supply can ultimately put pressure on prices and returns.Turning to AI, they discuss whether computing capacity could display similar characteristics, why investors should pay as much attention to supply as demand, and whether today's rapid expansion in data-centre infrastructure risks creating oversupply in the future.Listen now for insights into capital cycles, the economics behind the AI infrastructure boom and why some of the oldest lessons in investing may still be relevant to one of today's newest technologies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special ‘Brunner Book Club’ episode of Connected Investor, portfolio managers James Ashworth and Julian Bishop step away from company results and market updates to discuss the books that have shaped their thinking. From financial bubbles and the Great Depression to investor psychology, neuroscience and the power of compounding, they explore how history, human behaviour and timeless investing principles continue to influence markets today and why reading beyond finance can make you a better investor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In investing, risk is often measured against a benchmark or by day-to-day market volatility. But is that really what matters most? In this episode of Connected Investor, Brunner Investment Trust's Julian Bishop and James Ashworth challenge conventional thinking about risk, arguing that the greatest danger isn't underperforming an index… it's the permanent loss of capital. They explore the difference between relative and absolute risk, why increasingly concentrated markets can leave investors more exposed than they realise, and how independent thinking, diversification and focusing on different businesses can help build more resilient portfolios. Along the way, they discuss AI-driven market concentration, lessons from the dot-com boom, and why resisting the herd can be one of the hardest and most valuable decisions an investor can make. Whether you're a seasoned investor or looking to better understand today's markets, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what risk really means in long-term investing.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The energy transition is one of the defining themes of modern markets. But what happens when ambition runs ahead of reality?In this episode of Connected Investor from the Brunner Investment Trust, Julian Bishop and James Ashworth explore the tension between the push towards cleaner energy and the continued global reliance on oil and gas. They discuss why fossil fuel demand continues to rise despite significant investment in renewables, and why much of the global economy, from transport to manufacturing, remains difficult to decarbonise.The conversation also looks at the inelastic nature of energy demand, and how even sharp price increases often fail to curb consumption. Julian and James examine the role of geopolitics in energy markets, from supply concentration to energy security, and explain why energy has always been as much a political issue as an economic one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.