How to Spot the Next Big Investing Wave, According to Frank Holmes

How to Spot the Next Big Investing Wave, According to Frank Holmes

The world is constantly being shaped by powerful waves that ripple throughout the global economy.

When analyzed effectively, these macro trends can serve as a key investment tool.

Today’s infographic comes from U.S. Global Investors, and it highlights how its team uses macro trends to identify investment opportunities.

Preparing for the Next Wave

Frank Holmes, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of U.S. Global Investors, is responsible for developing and overseeing investment strategies. One fund under his team’s management is the Holmes Macro Trends Fund (MEGAX), which follows a combination of two approaches.

1. Analyze macro trends in an effort to find the fastest-growing sectors.
   Macro trends are defined as long-lasting, pervasive shifts that affect a large population. They generally fall into one of the following categories:
   • Demographics
   • Economics
   • Environment
   • Government
   • Society
   • Technology

   A key benefit of macro trends is that they are unbiased, and cut through the endless headlines created by today’s 24/7 news cycle. They also help investors gauge market expectations, which in turn help drive long-term price trends.

   Here are a couple examples of current macro trends, and the investment opportunities or threats they present:

   • Aging populations
     Africa has the world’s youngest population and is least likely to be affected, while China is particularly vulnerable given the one-child policy.
   • Rising interest rates in North America
     Financial companies may be able to improve their interest rate spread, while the real estate and automotive sectors may be negatively impacted by higher financing costs.

   Once Holmes’ team has identified the regions and sectors with the best opportunities, it moves onto the next step.

2. Analyze companies within those sectors in an effort to find the ones growing the fastest, at a reasonable price.
   Traditionally, investors subscribe to either the growth strategy or the value strategy. Holmes’ team uses the Growth at a Reasonable Price (GARP) strategy, which combines elements of both.
   • Growth – Buying stocks of companies that have been growing fast and may increase in price over time.
   • Value – Buying stocks that appear to be undervalued by the marketplace.
   • GARP – Buying stocks with a track record of consistent earnings growth and reasonable valuations.

   Some other key metrics are also used to evaluate companies, including quarter over quarter sales, growth in earnings, and return on equity.

Professional Management

Macro trends are the waves that shape the future – but to ride them, investors need to pick the best companies in these sectors. The MEGAX fund, under the leadership of Holmes, follows this strategy.

Why invest in MEGAX?

• Experience: Fund managers have a total of 60+ years’ experience
• Strategy: Pragmatic investing that cuts through the 24-hour news cycle
• Composition: Diversified portfolio to decrease risk

Investors don’t need to discover the next big wave themselves. Instead, they can invest in MEGAX to take advantage of U.S. Global Investors’ experienced management.

Please consider carefully a fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. For this and other important information, obtain a fund prospectus by visiting www.usfunds.com or by calling 1-800-US-FUNDS (1-800-873-8637). Read it carefully before investing. Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Distributor. U.S. Global Investors is the investment adviser.

Stock markets can be volatile and share prices can fluctuate in response to sector-related and other risks as described in the fund prospectus.