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Investment strategy

Global Discovery

The strategy seeks ambitious, rare companies that could shape our future by solving today’s most important, complex problems. We aim to find them at an early stage and hold them for the long term as they scale.

Astronomical Observatory under the starlit sky filled with the milky way.

Unearthing transformational growth

Global Discovery seeks to invest in immature, disruptive companies experiencing exciting, formative growth phases. We then look to hold them for the long term as they scale.

While this approach can lead to individual stock and strategy volatility, we believe it also increases the chance of highly asymmetrical outcomes.

The strategy aims to outperform (net of fees) the S&P Global Small Cap Index, in sterling, by at least 2 per cent per annum over rolling five-year periods.

We consider opportunities below $10bn but believe immaturity, not size, is the best proxy for potential. We hold regardless of market cap if the company has desirable traits.

The performance target is aspirational and is not guaranteed. We don’t use it to compile the portfolio and returns will vary. A single performance target may not be appropriate across all vehicles and jurisdictions. We may not meet our investment objectives if, for example, our growth investment style is out of favour or we misjudge the long-term earnings growth of our holdings.

Discovery Q2 update

The Discovery Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.

A unique pursuit

The portfolio is built from the bottom up, disregarding the benchmark. Thus, it has a very high active share. This differentiates us from others. 

We exist in a huge investible universe, but most companies don’t meet our specifications. So we place ourselves on the frontier of technological progress.  

The resulting portfolio varies by industry and geography. What unites it is immaturity. We define this as:  

  • Scalability  
  • Quality and ambition of management  
  • Innovation to solve problems and reshape industry  
  • Emerging competitive edge
We established the Global Discovery Strategy to capture the opportunity in the enduring supercycle of innovation.
Douglas Brodie

Meet the managers

Documents

Philosophy and process

Explore our investment philosophy and the processes around how the team constructs the portfolio.

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Strategy portfolio holdings

A list of the top 10 holdings that the representative portfolio invests in.

All figures up to: 31 August 2024

#Holding% of portfolio
1Alnylam Pharmaceuticals6.8%
2AeroVironment4.9%
3Oxford Nanopore Tech3.2%
4Zillow3.2%
5Exact Sciences3.2%
6Axon Enterprise3.0%
7Ocado2.9%
8Appian2.8%
9American Superconductor Corp2.5%
10LiveRamp2.4%

Strategy holdings by sector

As at: 31 August 2024

1Health Care45.00%
2Information Technology24.90%
3Industrials15.20%
4Financials3.70%
5Real Estate3.20%
6Consumer Discretionary3.00%
7Consumer Staples2.90%
8Materials0.90%
9Communication Services0.50%
10Cash0.60%
Total 100%

Strategy holdings by sector

All figures up to: 31 August 2024

Total: 100%

Please note

The information contained on this page is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. All holdings information is unaudited. Source Baillie Gifford & Co. Please note that totals may not add due to rounding.

Explore further

Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.

Insights

Key articles, videos and podcasts relating to the strategy:

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Insights

Viewing 10 of 10
  1. Future Stocks: Our best disruptive ideas

    Bill Chater spotlights three companies set to make world-changing breakthroughs.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  2. Discovery Q2 update

    The Discovery Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    July 2024
    Video10 minutes
  3. Stock story: PsiQuantum

    How one company is finally bringing the boundless possibilities of quantum computing into reach of the wider market.
    June 2024
    Video3 minutes
  4. Why growth, why now?

    Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.
    December 2023
    Article17 minutes
  5. Small caps: Beyond the myths

    Opportunities remain in small-cap investing, regardless of interest rates or market volatility.
    November 2023
    Article
  6. How Alnylam nips disease in the bud

    The US-based company’s technology promises to ‘silence’ genetic disorders and target some of the world’s biggest killers.
    October 2023
    Article
  7. Global Discovery manager update

    Investors discuss recent performance, holdings, and portfolio positioning for the Global Discovery Strategy.
    September 2023
    Video47 minutes
  8. Discovery: a view from the frontiers

    Baillie Gifford’s Global Discovery Team reflects on the lessons of turbulent times.
    June 2023
    Article
  9. A decade of discovery

    A focus on growth and innovation has led to exciting finds such as Tesla and Ocado.
    August 2022
    Video11 minutes
  10. Bricks and clicks

    With online companies currently dominating sales, it is widely expected that the need for tangible stores will continue to decrease, but Baillie Gifford has spotted a rise in forward-thinking companies who are utilising physical spaces to provide an innovative and interactive shopping experience.
    April 2019
    Document

Discovery Q2 update

The Discovery Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.

  1. Future Stocks: Our best disruptive ideas

    Bill Chater spotlights three companies set to make world-changing breakthroughs.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  2. Discovery Q2 update

    The Discovery Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    July 2024
    Video10 minutes
  3. Stock story: PsiQuantum

    How one company is finally bringing the boundless possibilities of quantum computing into reach of the wider market.
    June 2024
    Video3 minutes
  4. Why growth, why now?

    Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.
    December 2023
    Article17 minutes
  5. Small caps: Beyond the myths

    Opportunities remain in small-cap investing, regardless of interest rates or market volatility.
    November 2023
    Article
  6. How Alnylam nips disease in the bud

    The US-based company’s technology promises to ‘silence’ genetic disorders and target some of the world’s biggest killers.
    October 2023
    Article
  7. Global Discovery manager update

    Investors discuss recent performance, holdings, and portfolio positioning for the Global Discovery Strategy.
    September 2023
    Video47 minutes
  8. Discovery: a view from the frontiers

    Baillie Gifford’s Global Discovery Team reflects on the lessons of turbulent times.
    June 2023
    Article
  9. A decade of discovery

    A focus on growth and innovation has led to exciting finds such as Tesla and Ocado.
    August 2022
    Video11 minutes
  10. Bricks and clicks

    With online companies currently dominating sales, it is widely expected that the need for tangible stores will continue to decrease, but Baillie Gifford has spotted a rise in forward-thinking companies who are utilising physical spaces to provide an innovative and interactive shopping experience.
    April 2019
    Document

Explore further

Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.