9 Champion Stocks: The "must haves" in a portfolio

Champion Stocks all have a long term positive thematic, which should drive superior earnings growth and shareholder value over the coming years, notwithstanding inevitable disruptions in the economic and investment environment as well as some corporate stumbles from time to time.

Therefore, we are not particularly concerned about the current year’s investment arithmetic or the analyst's twelve-month buy-hold-sell rating. And, of course, the balance sheet ratios must remain strong in order to provide financial support to the positive thematic driver. 

We have reviewed our Champion Stocks (excluding resources and small caps) for the next three to five years and decided to make only one change— Amcor has replaced APA Group. After examining the stocks under our research coverage, our Champion Stocks are as follows

Amcor (AMC) 

After the proposed acquisition of Bemis Company, the combined group will be the global leader in consumer packaging with a footprint encompassing North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The group offers an attractive combination of defensive earnings in the developed countries with faster growth in emerging markets, which accounted for 30% of group revenue in fiscal 2018.

Transurban Group (TCL) 

Australia’s largest builder, owner and operator of urban toll road networks. The group’s current pipeline of growth projects is $5 billion (TCL’s share of total project cost) and further huge development opportunities are expected over the next few decades supported by population and economic growth.

Challenger (CGF)

A financial group comprising a Life Company, which specialises in retirement income products and annuities and accounts for most of the group’s earnings, and a funds management business. As baby boomers continue to move into retirement, it is inevitable that annuities will become a major and rapidly growing product.

Lendlease Group (LLC)

An international property and infrastructure group with operations in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Its core lines of business are developing, constructing, owning and co-investing in property and infrastructure assets. The international markets offer substantial growth opportunities, especially in the field of urban regeneration—the group’s urbanisation pipeline end value is currently around A$59.3 billion around the world.

Goodman Group (GMG)

One of the world’s largest integrated industrial property groups with operations centred around development, management and ownership throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, United Kingdom, North America, and Brazil. The long term outlook for industrial and logistics properties is favourable given the continuing growth in ecommerce (or on-line retail sales) and the growing middle class in developing countries

Netwealth Group (NWL)

A specialist investment platform technology provider in Australia that offers investment management solutions to financial intermediaries, who provide financial advice on superannuation and other investments, and self-directed individuals who have chosen not to seek advice. In recent years, the group has been taking market share from the institutional platform providers such as the major banks and other large diversified financial companies. Looking forward, a structural shift within the wealth management sector from large vertically integrated players towards the more independent players should further boost the group’s growth outlook.

CSL (CSL)

A leading global company in the development, manufacture, and distribution of plasma therapies as well as non-plasma biotherapeutic products. The global growth in plasma volumes is expected to be around a solid 8% per annum for the foreseeable future and, in addition, the group is planning to launch new products from its very extensive Research and Development portfolio.

Sonic Healthcare (SHL)

The world’s third largest pathology provider with significant operations in the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. Against the backdrop of continuing growth in the demand for pathology services over the longer term, the group has further international expansion opportunities in both existing and new geographical markets.

Brambles (BXB)

A global logistics company operating in more than 60 countries, which provides reusable pallets, crates and containers for shared use by multiple participants throughout a supply chain under a model known as “pooling”. The group primarily serves defensive growth sectors such as fast-moving consumer goods (dry food, grocery, and health and personal care), fresh produce and beverages. Further expansion into emerging markets should generate additional earnings growth