Our approach

We are firm believers that themes are critical drivers of market returns, and that they need to be understood by investors from both risk and reward standpoints. Themes seek to identify the major areas of structural change in the world. This structural change can be political, economic, social, technological, or environmental; its impact will manifest across traditional economic sectors, and will be significant in magnitude and long-term in duration.

Themes are a critical element of our idea-generation process and, alongside evaluation of fundamentals and environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, constitute a key component of our valuation of securities.

Thematic strategies – the investment opportunity

  • Thematic strategies


The basis for our thematic investment approach is that financial markets are relatively efficient at pricing in short-term information, but considerably less efficient at pricing in longer-term trends – or themes – the disruptive impact of which typically manifests over a longer-term horizon. We are long-term investors, and our approach has remained consistent since our founding in 1978: themes are symbolic of disruption in the global economy, disruption generates pricing anomalies, and these anomalies are magnified over a longer-term horizon.

Using themes like Earth matters and population dynamics to frame potential investment opportunities is an alternative to, and complements, a more traditional sector or industry classification approach. As thematic change disrupts established industries and companies, it provides an opportunity for active investors to identify winning business models and avoid the losers.

Our thematic strategies

Strategy Category Literature
Future Earth Thematic  
Future Food Thematic  
Future Life Thematic  

Your capital may be at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the original amount invested.