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Tom Slater, a partner and investment manager at Edinburgh-based Baillie Gifford, discussed long-term investment strategies in a podcast on September 7, 2025. He emphasized the importance of identifying exceptional growth companies and maintaining holdings despite market volatility.
Key insights included the notion that a small number of companies drive overall market returns, corroborated by David Bessembinder’s study, which indicates that around 4% of companies generate the bulk of market returns. Additionally, Slater noted that his firm has maintained an average holding period of around ten years, suggesting a focus on long-term potential rather than short-term fluctuations.
Baillie Gifford’s portfolio includes significant stakes in companies like Amazon and MercadoLibre, showcasing their strategy of investing in growth markets outside developed economies. Slater reiterated that their allocation decisions are guided by identifying the best opportunities rather than conforming to sector or regional indices.
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