Three top stocks set to thrive after the turmoil
Professional investor Ed Wielechowski of the Odyssean Investment Trust picks three companies that should benefit from the current market situation.
“May you live in interesting times.” This apocryphal Chinese curse springs to mind when looking at today’s equity markets. The initial wave of the Covid-19 virus may have peaked in Europe and the US, but the longer-term trajectory of the disease and its economic impact remain highly uncertain. Throw in geopolitical tension between China and the US and a Brexit deal still to be agreed, and “interesting” seems an understatement.
Investing against such a backdrop can be a challenge, but it also offers opportunities. At Odyssean we aim to exploit these by retaining a focus on our core philosophy – backing high-quality businesses where engagement can improve returns – and identifying companies that benefit from the current market situation.
Finding oversold first-rate cyclicals
When cyclicals sell off, investors need to judge the timing of a rebound and appropriate entry valuations. These are not easy questions to answer. We take comfort in backing market leaders at valuations supported by significant real assets. Elementis (LSE: ELM) fits this bill.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The company is a leading producer of speciality chemicals sold into a broad range of industrial and personal-care end markets. The group enjoys strong market positions with access to unique mineral assets underpinning differentiated, premium products.
The group should benefit from a cyclical recovery in demand after the virus, while synergies from recent mergers and acquisitions and targeted cost savings of $15m will help too. The shares trade on a price/book ratio of just 0.5 compared with a five-year average of 1.8, suggesting significant value.
Profiting from uncertainty
We also seek out companies that should emerge as winners from the current market disruption. Looking beyond the obvious, direct winners (such as online retail) we like are firms we think capable of gaining market share in uncertain times. Volution (LSE: FAN) falls into this category.
Volution is a leader in domestic and commercial ventilation equipment. The company has leading positions across the UK, Europe and Australasia in a growing market. Energy-efficiency standards are driving increased ventilation spend per property.
As a well-capitalised, larger player in a fragmented market, Volution should benefit from turbulence in the sector. Its ability to maintain supply and inventory should allow it to gain market share and its access to capital means it could buy up distressed smaller players.
Growth stocks that can move up a gear
Finally, high-quality businesses in growth markets led by capable managers that could improve overall performance are highly appealing, but rare, investment opportunities. SDL (LSE: SDL) is an example.
It is a leading global provider of translations services and related software tools. The company serves blue-chip corporate clients in a market growing at a mid-single digit rate as content volumes grow exponentially.
SDL boasts a high level of recurring sales, plenty of scope for improving margins, a record of accretive bolt-on acquisitions, a strong management team and a healthy balance sheet. It’s a long-term story we would like whatever the market conditions.
Ed Wielechowski is co-fund manager of the Odyssean Investment Trust
-
BoE: Millions of mortgage borrowers will be hit with higher repayments next year
News Higher interest rates are yet to fully hit households and monthly mortgage repayments will rise between £200 and £1,000 – how much will your home loan go up by?
By Marc Shoffman Published
-
Halifax: House prices rise for the second consecutive month
UK house prices rose again in November, suggesting a resilient property market amid economic turmoil in the past year- are we heading for a crash?
By Vaishali Varu Published
-
Crypto is “Monopoly money”
FTX won't be the last crypto scandal, because cryptocurrencies mirror the worst aspects of the finance industry.
By Alex Rankine Published
-
OpenAI – corporate drama unleashed
OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT, was in uproar as its boss was booted out, briefly snapped up by Microsoft and then brought back again.
By Dr Matthew Partridge Published
-
Can Lidiane Jones be Bumble's perfect match?
Dating app Bumble is taking on Lidiane Jones, a well-regarded leader in tech, as its new boss. Can she work her magic in a new arena?
By Jane Lewis Published
-
Are corporate bonds a good bet?
Corporate bonds pay a slightly higher yield than governments, but spreads aren’t generous by past standards.
By Cris Sholto Heaton Published
-
SoftBank’s shares slump on quarterly loss
Japanese investment group SoftBank’s technology funds have struggled, not least because of an investment in WeWork.
By Dr Matthew Partridge Published
-
M&S shares shift from frumpy to fabulous as pre-tax profits are up by 56%
M&S is performing strongly and has announced it will pay a dividend for the first time since the pandemic.
By Dr Matthew Partridge Published
-
The rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried – the “boy wonder of crypto”
Why the fate of Sam Bankman-Fried reminds us to be wary of digital tokens and unregulated financial intermediaries.
By Jane Lewis Published
-
Three defence stocks set to flourish in an era of instability
A professional investor tells MoneyWeek where he’d put his money. Tom Bailey highlights three defence stocks that look promising.
By Tom Bailey Published