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Momentum – the queen on the chess board

In a stock market shaped by a constant flow of information and rapid change, successful investing requires a process that is both disciplined and adaptable. This is the foundation of Delphi’s momentum strategy.

Rather than being confined to a single investment style, we take a flexible approach - like the queen on a chessboard - adjusting dynamically to evolving market conditions.

 

Disciplined, flexible and trend-driven

Delphi’s investment approach is built on momentum - the academic term for persistent trends in equity markets - combined with rigorous fundamental analysis and the informed judgment of our portfolio managers.

We identify companies with strong price and earnings momentum, investing in a disciplined manner in the most robust trends, and adjusting our positions as underlying conditions evolve.

The strategy is firmly grounded in academic research and has, over time, proven to be a resilient source of risk-adjusted returns. Delphi has applied this methodology since 1991.

We manage concentrated, benchmark-independent portfolios with the objective of delivering long-term, risk-adjusted outperformance for our investors.

From screening to portfolio

Systematic selection of the strongest trends

Our starting point is a broad global investment universe consisting of more than 3,000 equities.

Using our proprietary trend model - our “map and compass” - we systematically and automatically screen stocks based on factors including:

  • Price performance over 3, 6, and 12 months
  • Changes in analysts’ earnings estimates

This process identifies companies exhibiting both strong price momentum and improving earnings dynamics.

We then conduct thorough fundamental analysis before any stock is considered for inclusion in the portfolio. The process is disciplined and continuous, with portfolios adjusted as underlying conditions evolve.

The result is a concentrated portfolio of companies demonstrating strength in both market performance and fundamental characteristics.

Investment philosophy

Long-term movements in stock prices often reflect improvements in companies’ underlying earnings. Historical data show that companies with strong price and earnings performance often continue to perform well over time—past winners are often future winners.

Delphi’s investment philosophy is grounded in solid academic research on “momentum,” which is a systematic factor premium in the equity market. There is extensive empirical evidence that the momentum effect occurs across markets and asset classes.

Over longer time horizons, serial correlation in stock prices has repeatedly proven to be a robust source of risk-adjusted excess returns.

Delphi's Investment Process (Click on infographic to expand image)
Delphi's Investment Process

Investment process

From investment universe to portfolio

Illustrated by the equity fund Delphi Global


Our active investment process begins by filtering the global investment universe based on Storebrand AM’s exclusion criteria.

We then use a proprietary, quantitative screening process that identifies attractive investment candidates based on:

  • stock price trends (price trend)
  • revisions in analysts’ estimates (fundamental trend)

The subsequent qualitative, fundamental analysis assesses whether the positive price trends are likely to persist. The analysis focuses in particular on the drivers of earnings improvement and the potential for further upward revisions in analysts’ estimates.

The portfolio manager makes the final investment decisions and executes trades in accordance with the investment mandate and best execution principles. The portfolio is constructed to ensure good risk diversification and exposure to multiple value drivers.

Portfolio management team

Delphi’s portfolio management team works in close collaboration, exchanging knowledge and ideas across all investment areas.

Historical returns are no guarantee for future returns. Future returns will depend, inter alia, on market developments, the fund manager’s skills, the fund’s risk profile and management fees. The return may become negative as a result of negative price developments. There is risk associated with investing in funds due to market movements, currency developments, interest rate levels, economic, sector and company-specific conditions. Returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Prior to making a subscription, we encourage you to read the fund's prospectus and key investor information document which contain further details about the fund's characteristics and costs.