Slack investor generally likes to avoid making predictions. He is just stumbling on in this investing world, using a bit of financial discipline to try and make more good calls than bad. The whole point of this blog is to highlight that you only need to be ‘mostly right’ to be a successful investor.
It has been a couple of years since Slack Investor has had a look in the ‘room of mirrors’ – at some of the things said in this blog. A bit of reflection is good for the soul. Some of my buys and sells will be mentioned in next month’s ‘Nuggets and Stinkers’, but there have been a couple of issues nagging at my small brain. This is the type of report card that you may have difficulty to show to your parents.
01/07/2023 – Advice for a young man (July 2024 Report Card Revisited)
Three years ago (2023), Slack Investor was flattered when his nephew asked him for some advice on starting a stock portfolio. Converting hard earned cash from part-time jobs into the risky area of the stock market takes some admirable gumption – his nephew was 14 at the time. Slack Investor found some suitable ‘safe’ stocks (he thought!) in his own portfolio. He deliberately avoided the more speculative part of the stock world – as he wanted his nephew to have a good experience owning stocks. Shown below, is the basket of stocks that Slack Investor recommended. A collection of well known, growing companies that were not outrageously over priced.
The first review of this portfolio was at the end of FY 2024 and Slack Investor was secretly pleased that the average 1-yr growth of the portfolio was 30.9%. He prematurely gave himself 9/10. Things have changed in the two years after that initial review. Let’s just say that things didn’t go as expected (CSL down 37.7% – Ouch!). Overall, the portfolio fell 2.8% in the subsequent two years..
Another lesson in hubris for Slack Investor. These figures do not include dividends. In hindsight, Slack Investor would have been better off recommending more diverse products such as ETF’s for the ASX 200, S&P 500 or the NASDAQ 100. However, Slack Investor thinks that you learn a lot more about the stock market when you are invested at the company level.
Over 3 years, the overall Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for this recommended portfolio was a lackluster 6.2%. Slack Investor hopes that his nephew is not too disheartened and will keep an interest in shares. All of these companies may not be the growth machines that they used to be – but they are still solid businesses. There are already a few signs of a comeback in the punished shares (CSL, CAR, REA).
There is a lesson here. Sometimes things don’t go as planned in the share market. Be prepared to change strategy if your shares are really on the stink. The share market can be cruel. Be diversified and take a long term view.
A very average effort Slack Investor – 3/10; Nephew – ?/10 (Definitely disappointed in his Uncle – but hang in there!).
01/07/2025 – Growth Professionals
Slack Investor was talking about things that he admires and looking at futere ways to handle his bucket of investments when he doesn’t want to manage it himself. He started spraying on about the Hyperion Global Growth Companies Fund ETF (ASX: HYGG). HYGG has the most excellent long term performance record over 5 and 10-yr periods. They have consistently beaten benchmarks with annual returns averaging over 15%.
Since posting, HYGG performance for FY 2026 is a not so good -2.5%. Again, only long term performance counts. Sometimes good investors just go through lean periods. Slack Investor has faith in the HYGG team, and himself. Good companies generally do well over the long term.
Slack Investor is easily led by long term performance. Must stop talking in class; 5/10.
Financial Year 2026
A quick review of how the Slack followed markets fared in FY 2026. The Total Return amounts shown for the financial year (1 July 2025 – 1 July 2026) are from Investing.com and they include dividends. Slack Investor has noted that these Total Net Return amounts sometimes get updated and the figures below are just approximations.
ASX 200
After a solid 2025, FY 2026 could be described as a financial year that is really not going anywhere for the ASX 200 – the ASX 200 Net Total Return ended up 3.8%.
FTSE 100
Things were more robust for the UK Index. When accumulated dividends are re-invested, the FTSE 100 Total Return was up 18.5%.
S&P 500
The mighty US of A, has done it again. When accumulated dividends are re-invested, the S&P 500 Total Return was up an amazing 20.9%.
The Slack Portfolio 2026 – Preliminary results
Lean times for Slack Investor this financial year. His portfolio includes many healthcare and Software as a Service (SaaS) stocks, that were recently beaten up. Investors were worried about the effects of AI on future revenues.
Slack Investor preliminary FY 2026 results – a negative 1.0 %. At some stages this year, my account was almost 10% out the back door.
The only consolation is that Slack Investor knows that only long-term results count.
Easily distracted. A poor effort for FY 2026 Slack Investor. Needs improvement to reach his full potential – 3/10.
