Jim Stukken gives the ‘Investing for Beginners’ course on Spaarvarkens.be. During the series of lessons, he takes novice and advanced investors on the path to a robust portfolio. Over the past 12 months, his selection (VWCE, Brederode and Aedifica) yielded a 25.1% return.
iShares MSCI ACWI UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IE00B6R52259)
For two years in a row, an ETF that tracks global markets has been number 1 among my favorites. If you ask me, you can’t do much wrong with this. Last year and the year before that was Vanguard’s FTSE All-world ETF. Changing food makes you eat and that’s why I’m choosing a different one this year. This ETF actually does the same thing, but has the advantage that it is not registered in Belgium. As a result, you only pay 0.12% stock exchange tax to Father State. In the long term, the stock exchange tax makes less difference, but it always feels good to pay less. With one push of a button you can invest in 2,412 companies worldwide with this ETF. The total cost is only 0.20% on an annual basis.
Brederode (LU1068091351)
During my lessons I want to teach everyone how to invest sensibly. This can be done by choosing very simple investments such as ETFs and holding companies. Consistently investing and continuing to invest is of course also very important and that is why I have chosen the Belgian holding company Brederode again this year, for the third time in a row. The van der Mersch family holding company is currently trading at a discount of 18.7%, which is still interesting. The largest listed positions within Brederode are Mastercard and Alphabet, the company behind Google. Unfortunately, the positions in China were reduced a little too early. In addition, private equity performed excellently and that portion grew to 69% of the total portfolio.
NKT (DK0010287663)
Electric driving, heating, solar panels on the roof and offshore wind farms. To realize an increasingly electric future, we will have to transport all that energy. Cables are needed for this. Denmark’s NKT, with a market capitalization of 4.6 billion euros, produces the cables that will electrify our future. The company has a net cash position of 1.2 billion euros and therefore still has room to grow. It also saw its order book increase to no less than 11.3 billion euros. Almost half of the infrastructure in Europe is older than 40 years, which means that significant investments are needed to make the energy transition possible. Companies like NKT can benefit from this.
This article previously appeared in De Standaard.
Investing with Jim Stukken: A Comedy of Currencies, Returns, and a Dash of Wit
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the world of investing as presented by the charming yet mysterious Jim Stukken, the man who makes numbers dance! You see, investing isn’t just about the spreadsheets and stock tickers; it’s about strategy, patience, and the occasional dash of mischief. And with a 25.1% return over the past year to his name, Stukken is unarguably a wizard in this realm of financial alchemy!
iShares MSCI ACWI UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IE00B6R52259)
Picture this: an ETF that tracks global markets, reigning supreme for two years running. Who wouldn’t want to hop on that profit train, right? For the uninitiated, ETF stands for “Exchange-Traded Fund,” which is finance’s way of saying, “Let’s pool our money and see what happens!” Stukken’s latest choice—even though it sounds like the name of your dodgy uncle’s old sofa—will save you on taxes! Yes, that’s right! Instead of forking over your hard-earned cash to ‘Father State’—who always gets his way like a toddler in a tantrum—you’ll pay a mere 0.12%! It’s like saying, “I’ll have my cake and eat it too!”
Brederode (LU1068091351)
Now let’s talk about Brederode, a holding company that’s been picking up the tab at the investment party for longer than some of us like to admit. This is the kind of company that screams stability while still managing to keep a bit of mystery poking out from under its metaphorical trench coat. With an 18.7% discount—could somebody please tell the van der Mersch family to raise their prices?—this is the investment world’s version of a clearance sale! It holds prestigious investments like Mastercard and Alphabet—sounds impressive, doesn’t it? Just don’t ask too many questions about those early Chinese investments; it’s a sensitive subject, like asking a magician how the trick is done.
NKT (DK0010287663)
And if you weren’t excited yet, try this on for size: NKT, a Danish company that provides the cables essential for our electric future, is like the unsung hero in a superhero movie. You might not give much thought to cables—after all, they don’t exactly walk around flexing their biceps—but without them, we’re back to the Stone Age of energy! This company has a net cash position of 1.2 billion euros and a shiny order book bulging with 11.3 billion worth of contracts. And let’s be honest, with half of Europe’s infrastructure older than your grandma, they are like the repair crew called in for a plumbing crisis—but a lot more exciting!
Remember, folks, investing isn’t all about dollar signs and careful calculations. It’s about making informed choices whilst having a jolly good time. So whether you’re a novice or a seasoned investor, taking Jim Stukken’s tips and sticking with solid ETFs and holding companies might just be your winning ticket. As he so wisely encapsulates, ‘Investing should be as straightforward as my jokes—and almost as rewarding, if not more!’ Now, go forth and let your portfolios flourish!
This article previously appeared in De Standaard.
