Category: Stock Market

Why does Hargreaves Lansdown have some Swedish companies and not others

1. Exchange Access & Settlement

HL offers access to “major international exchanges” (like Stockholm, Paris, Frankfurt, NYSE, Nasdaq, etc.), but they don’t automatically make all companies on those exchanges available.

  • They rely on CREST and Euroclear (the settlement systems) and need to have a smooth process for custody and dividends.
  • Smaller or less liquid Swedish stocks sometimes aren’t supported because they’re harder/expensive to settle.

2. Liquidity & Demand

HL curates what’s listed for retail clients.

  • Large caps / well-known Swedish companies (think Volvo, Ericsson, Evolution Gaming) tend to be included because they’re liquid and there’s demand.
  • Small caps or niche companies may not be available unless enough HL clients request them — not worth the admin burden otherwise.

3. Corporate Actions & Complexity

Foreign shares often involve dividend tax, rights issues, and corporate actions. HL simplifies its offering to avoid the cost/complexity of handling lots of “long tail” small companies overseas.

4. Custody Costs

HL passes some overseas custody and settlement costs onto clients in its dealing fees.
If a stock would require unusually high back-office overhead, HL may simply choose not to offer it to retail clients.

5. Regulatory / Listing Requirements

Some companies, even though they’re on the Stockholm Exchange, might trade only in certain share classes (A vs B shares, for example). HL typically lists the more liquid share class (usually the B shares in Sweden). That’s why you’ll sometimes find “Rokob” but not “Rokoa.”

Can you buy single shares of Xiaomi or do you need to buy 200 shares at a time?

It all depends on where you buy the Xiaomi stock.

Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1810.HK)

  • On the HKEX, stocks trade in “board lots” (minimum trading units).
  • For Xiaomi (1810.HK) the board lot is 200 shares.
  • That means if you buy directly in Hong Kong, you have to buy at least 200 shares (or multiples of 200).
  • Example: If Xiaomi trades at HK$15, the minimum investment is HK$3,000 (~US$380).

U.S. OTC Market (XIACF, XIACY)

  • In the U.S. OTC market, you can buy single shares (no board lot restriction).
  • So if you’re using a U.S. or international broker that gives access to OTC, you can buy 1 share, 10 shares, 37 shares — whatever you like.

How can I buy shares of Xiaomi and under what ticker symbol

Ticker Symbols & Where to Buy

1. Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Primary Listing)

  • Ticker: 1810.HK (often just “1810”)
  • That’s Xiaomi’s main public listing and the one most commonly used by investors. You’d buy this through a broker that provides access to Hong Kong markets.

2. Over-the-Counter (OTC) in the U.S.

  • Tickers: XIACF and XIACY
  • These are U.S. OTC representations (likely ADRs or Pink Sheet listings). They let U.S.-based investors access Xiaomi without needing a Hong Kong broker.

Google Search revenues becoming smaller as a percentage of total Google revenues – cloud, subscriptions and YouTube rising fast!

Alphabet’s revenues are become more diverse over time – and quickly!

Google Search revenues now make up only 56.1% of their total revenues and the gap is getting smaller every quarter.

Google Cloud is driving growth in the other areas, but YouTube is also climbing fast as well as other subscriptions and devices (and lets not even talk about Waymo and its potential).

Nvidia Reports Earnings next week – where is this chart headed?

Nvidia earnings are reported next week. It will be very interesting to see how this chart continues to move over the coming quarters and years. I think it is all going higher, but I think we are starting to see a little bit of a slower growth, which hopefully will allow them some breathing space to stabilise a few things.

How does the current price of XIACF compare to its 52-week high and low

Based on the search results, I can provide the following comparison of XIACF’s current price to its 52-week high and low:

The 52-week range for XIACF (Xiaomi Corp Class B) stock is $1.40 – $2.64.

As of the most recent data available:

  1. The current price is $2.36.
  2. The 52-week high is $2.36, set on May 03, 2024.
  3. The 52-week low is $1.26, recorded in June 2023.

Comparing these figures:

  • The current price of $2.36 is at the 52-week high, just 0.00% below it.
  • The current price represents a 87.3% increase from the 52-week low of $1.26.

This indicates that XIACF is currently trading at its highest point over the past year, suggesting strong recent performance or positive market sentiment towards the stock.

Constellation Software Revenue by Segment – 2019 – 2024

I came across this amazing chart of the growth of Constellation Software and their revenue by Segment.

As you can see Constellation has been on an amazing growth story since the very beginning and it doesn’t look like it is going to slow down any time soon.

I just wish I could invest in them from the UK, but no broker is really offer an option to buy their stock! If they had this I’m sure it would go even higher faster!

TSMC (TSM) Release Their Q2 2024 Earnings. Strong Results Above Expectations, but Drop in Stock Price

TSMC has just released their Q2 2024 Earnings.

EPS: $1.48 vs $1.39 estimate

Revenue: $20.82 billion vs $20.06 billion estimate

Gross margin for the quarter was 53.2%, operating margin was 42.5%, and net profit margin was 36.8%. For Q3 2024 TSMC expect revenue between $22.4-$23.2 billion. The middle is well above the estimate of $22.65 billion.

This seems like another good quarter for TSMC overall, but so far the market has pushed down the share price and now it is trading at a forward P/E of 23

Time to buy??

Amit Interviews Robinhood CEO and Co-Founder, Vlad Tenev. Robinhood Gold Economics and more.

The other day I just came across Amit on YouTube and noticed that he sat down and interviewed Robinhood CEO and Co-Founder, Vlad Tenev.

It’s a great interview and really worth the watch.

My favourite part is them talking about the new Robinhood Gold and the economics behind the product.

How Can I Buy Shares in Xiaomi (XIACY or 1810) on the Public Stock Market?

Buying Xiaomi American Depositary Receipts (ADRs):

  • This is the simplest and most common way for US investors to buy Xiaomi stock.
  • ADRs represent shares of a foreign company (in this case, Xiaomi) that are traded on a US stock exchange.
  • Xiaomi’s ADR trades under the ticker symbol XIACY on the OTC Markets.

Buying Xiaomi shares directly on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX):

  • This method allows you to buy actual shares of Xiaomi (stock code: 1810), but it’s a more complex process and not recommended for all investors.
  • It typically involves opening an international brokerage account that allows trading on the HKEX and navigating potential currency conversion and other fees.

My Thoughts on Google (GOOGL) and Their Market Share and Investment Opportunity

A lot of people have been giving Google a really hard time of late over their troubled entry into AI – with their chat interface Gemini. Additionally, there are investors out there that think OpenAI, Perplexity and others will start to disrupt their search business which is their main revenue stream via ads.

I don’t think this is going to happen and here is my take:

  • Google has 93% market share in search and 50% in total digital marketing. These are not going anywhere.
  • Cloud is growing 30% YoY with margin expansion.
  • Forward PE of 19 is reasonable compared to industry average and to its historical median.

I think I will be buying more for my own investment portfolio.

Who are Currently the Largest Shareholders in Monster Beverages

As of October 26, 2023, the largest shareholders in Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) are:

  1. The Coca-Cola Company: Owns approximately 20% of Monster Beverage’s outstanding shares. This makes them the single largest shareholder.
  2. The Vanguard Group: Owns approximately 6.0% of the shares. Vanguard is a large investment management company with a diverse portfolio of holdings.
  3. BlackRock Inc.: Owns approximately 5.6% of the shares. Similar to Vanguard, BlackRock is a major investment management firm with a broad range of investments.

Here are some additional insights about Monster Beverage’s ownership structure:

  • Institutional ownership: Over 63% of Monster Beverage’s shares are owned by institutions such as investment companies, pension funds, and insurance companies. This indicates that Monster Beverage is a popular investment choice for institutional investors.
  • Individual investors: While the largest shareholders are institutions, individual investors still hold a significant portion of the company’s shares, indicating a diverse ownership structure.

What are the Benefits of Dividend Investing Over Capital Growth Returns?

Dividend investing can be considered better than standard long-term investing for capital growth returns due to several reasons:

  1. Regular Income: Dividend investing focuses on investing in companies that pay regular dividends to their shareholders. This provides investors with a consistent stream of income, which can be reinvested or used for other purposes.
  2. Compounding Effect: Dividends can be reinvested to purchase additional shares of the company’s stock. Over time, this reinvestment can lead to the compounding effect, where the dividend income grows exponentially.
  3. Stability and Consistency: Companies that pay dividends are often mature and stable, with a track record of generating consistent profits. This stability can provide a level of confidence to investors, especially those seeking reliable income.
  4. Lower Market Volatility: Dividend-paying stocks tend to be less volatile compared to growth stocks. This lower volatility can provide a smoother investment experience, particularly for those who prefer a more conservative approach.
  5. Inflation Hedge: Dividends have the potential to increase over time, which can help investors keep up with inflation and maintain purchasing power.

It’s important to note that the choice between dividend investing and standard long-term investing depends on individual preferences, risk tolerance, and investment goals. Both approaches have their advantages and drawbacks, and it’s essential to consider one’s specific financial situation before making investment decisions.

In 1983, Buffett wrote down 13 owner-related business principles explaining Berkshire’s Approach – what are they

In 1983, Warren Buffett wrote down 13 owner-related business principles outlining Berkshire Hathaway’s approach to investing and business management. These principles, which remain relevant today, provide a framework for making sound decisions that prioritize long-term shareholder value.

  1. Own a diversified group of businesses that generate cash and consistently earn above-average returns on capital.

This principle emphasizes the importance of diversification to reduce risk and the pursuit of businesses that can generate consistent and sustainable profits.

  1. Avoid management that is obsessed with meeting short-term earnings targets.

Buffett advocates for a long-term focus, prioritizing decisions that enhance the intrinsic value of the company over short-term financial gains.

  1. Avoid companies with bloated balance sheets and excessive debt.

Financial prudence is essential, and excessive debt can hinder a company’s flexibility and ability to withstand economic downturns.

  1. Seek managers who are passionate about their businesses and put shareholders’ interests first.

Effective management is crucial, and aligning the interests of management with those of shareholders ensures long-term value creation.

  1. Don’t make acquisitions to simply increase size or diversify into unrelated businesses.

Acquisitions should be driven by strategic opportunities that enhance the overall value of Berkshire Hathaway.

  1. Don’t overpay for businesses, even if they appear to be attractive.

Disciplined valuation is paramount, and acquiring businesses at inflated prices can erode shareholder value.

  1. Be patient and willing to wait for the right opportunities to arise.

Investing requires patience and discipline, and rushing into decisions can lead to suboptimal outcomes.

  1. Communicate openly and honestly with shareholders.

Transparency and clear communication foster trust and confidence among shareholders.

  1. Behave as partners, not masters, to your shareholders.

Berkshire Hathaway views shareholders as partners in its success, aligning its actions with their interests.

  1. Don’t let your emotions dictate your investment decisions.

Sound investment decisions are based on rational analysis, not emotional impulses.

  1. Remember that the stock market is a tool, not a gambling machine.

The stock market should be used as a means to acquire ownership in valuable businesses, not as a venue for speculative trading.

  1. Understand that stock prices can be irrational in the short term.

Market fluctuations can be unpredictable, and investors should focus on the long-term intrinsic value of businesses.

  1. Always strive to make decisions that will protect and enhance Berkshire Hathaway’s intrinsic value.

Every decision should be evaluated based on its impact on the company’s long-term value and its ability to deliver superior returns to shareholders.

These 13 owner-related business principles provide valuable insights into Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy and Berkshire Hathaway’s approach to business. By adhering to these principles, investors can make informed decisions that prioritize long-term value creation and sustainable financial success.