The information provided should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. It should not be assumed that any of the securities discussed here were, or will prove to be, profitable.
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Mastercard is a long-term portfolio holding in Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust.
Its relevance in the daily lives of individuals makes it a valuable asset service, able to benefit from its scale advantage.
Mastercard has been delivering double digit revenue growth [annually] over the past decade. This is powered by the secular shift away from cash transactions towards digital payments.
Its relevance in the daily lives of individuals makes it a valuable asset service, able to benefit from its scale advantage.”
We continue to see a long runway of growth ahead, supported by still low penetration in small ticket size transactions, which are largely still cash based, card penetration volume gains from new payment flows and ever-growing demand for payment security in a more digitalised world. Bolt-on acquisitions could further bolster the growth over time.
The company's return profile is highly attractive as the business model is capital light with low requirements for capital expenditure.
Mastercard also has many qualities that can underpin resiliency through economic cycles.
Notably, given the core business is driven by transaction volumes, Mastercard is a natural beneficiary of inflation, because while an average consumer might spend less when inflation is higher, their transaction volume will not be as sensitive.
In addition, a balanced exposure to discretionary and non-discretionary spending, goods and experiences, and domestic and international flows, helps Mastercard to robustly navigate even poorer economic backdrops.
Furthermore, the cost base of Mastercard retains a good element of flexibility, which has helped them to protect margins during previous downturns.
The electronic payments space is highly competitive and there is ongoing disruption risk. However, Mastercard's prime, dominant competitive position ensures that the company can face these challenges from a position of strength, in our view.
Mastercard's prime, dominant competitive position ensures that the company can face these challenges from a position of strength, in our view”
As we regularly engage with the company, we have been impressed by Mastercard’s truly customer-oriented and solution-selling approach, which has nurtured loyal customer relationships and continues to win new customers.
Mastercard remains a high-conviction, long-term compounder position within Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust given its superior growth and returns profile and its exposure to secular growth drivers related to global consumer and business spend.
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This information is issued and approved by Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited (FTIML). It does not constitute investment advice.
It should not be assumed that any of the security transactions discussed here were or will prove to be profitable. These opinions are not intended to be a forecast of future events, research, a guarantee of future results or investment advice.
Past performance is not a guide to future returns. The return may increase or decrease as a result of fluctuations in the markets, in currency and/or in the portfolio.
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Market and currency movements may cause the capital value of shares, and the income from them, to fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.
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The opinions contained in this document are those of the named manager(s). They may not necessarily represent the views of other Martin Currie managers, strategies or funds.
Shares in investment trusts are traded on a stock market and the share price will fluctuate in accordance with supply and demand and may not reflect the value of underlying net asset value of the shares. The majority of charges will be deducted from the capital of the company. This will constrain capital growth of the company in order to maintain the income streams.