The Desert Island Investor

Market Tides and Trade Winds is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson takes a direct look at recent news headlines shaping the world of investing.  Created and Produced by Mark Atkinson |  SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peace... License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX Disclaimer: The conte...

Although executives hold a controlling position, private investors are still part-owners of the businesses in which they have shares. As such it is reasonable to expect those companies to answer questions when a shareholder has some concerns. Mark's experience of getting answers to questions has been mixed at best, so in this episode he discusses the problems and calls out the worst offenders. To...

Market Tides and Trade Winds is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson takes a direct look at recent news headlines shaping the world of investing.  Created and Produced by Mark Atkinson |  SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peace... License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX Disclaimer: The conte...

Market Tides and Trade Winds is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson takes a direct look at recent news headlines shaping the world of investing.  Created and Produced by Mark Atkinson |  SFX from Freesound (CC-BY): Waves: juskiddink. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peace... License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX Disclaimer: The conte...

Market Tides and Trade Winds is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson takes a direct look at recent news headlines shaping the world of investing. The Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com . You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcas...

Focusrite PLC (ticker symbol TUNE) is an audio products business based in High Wycombe in England. The company manufactures digital audio processing hardware and software for use in professional and home recording studios. Mark has reviewed this stock before in a previous podcast, but he has recently added to his holding. Listen to this episode to find out why and to see if his opinion of Focusrit...

Market Tides and Trade Winds is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson takes a direct look at recent news headlines shaping the world of investing. The Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research at https://www.progressive-research.com . You'll also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and all leading podcas...

Mark is an investor in sustainable palm oil producer M.P. Evans. M.P. Evans is allowed to use the term 'sustainable palm oil' because it adheres to strict rules and regulations set out by the industry’s leading certifier of ethical producers The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The CEO of the RSPO Joseph D'Cruz recently washed up on our beach and Mark took the opportunity to interview hi...

Many PLCs are vocal about their achievements in employing a diverse workforce, but they are often less vocal when it comes to providing evidence of how (or if) it has actually improved anything. In this episode of the podcast Mark takes issue with DEI policies, the cost of maintaining them and how they can turn into a preoccupation that overpowers the core objectives of a business. Desert Island D...

In this episode of the podcast Mark talks about his new investment in Diageo plc, one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in the world. The company sells into more than 180 countries and owns over 200 premium brands such as Johnny Walker, Smirnoff, Baileys and Guinness. Mark reveals the results of his recent trip to Ireland on a Guinness 'fact finding tour' and not to be beaten Paul undert...

Nichols plc (ticker symbol NICL) is the business behind a number of popular beverage creations most notably the classic soft drink brand Vimto. Mark took a position in the company a few years ago and he recently attended their 2026 AGM to see how things are going. Now Vimto is mixed with water and Mark is currently underwater with his investment, but despite that sarcastic comment from me, he rema...

In this episode of the podcast Mark bemoans the practice of corporate charity donations and how giving his money away affects the value of his investments. Paul proposes an independently assessed 'Charity Hygiene' rating to help members of the public see at a glance if a charity has a good or poor record of utilising donations appropriately. Desert Island Discord is a series of podcasts where priv...

If Britain's current economic climate is making you think seriously about moving abroad, you'll be interested in hearing the wisdom of today's guest castaway, Niall Allardice. Niall is a professional financial adviser who works for financial management firm Blevins Franks. He specialises in helping pioneers from the UK get their banking, investments and tax obligations in order as they transition...

In previous episodes of the podcast about Titon Holdings PLC we've focused on Mark's concerns about the way that the board was dealing with some of the causes of the company's decline. However, after attending this year's AGM Mark has not only returned with a souvenir coffee mug, but he is also in a far happier mood. To find out what action the company has taken to cause his renewed optimism, assu...

Desert Island Discord is a series of podcasts where private investor Mark Atkinson talks about the aspects of investing that really grinds his gears. In this episode he discusses the problems caused for businesses when consumers cherry-pick things to boycott based on out-of-date information and moral flexibility. If your own investment journey has been tainted by some poor practice that you think...

Fundsmith, under the guidance of portfolio manager Terry Smith, invest in equities on a global basis. Mark has been invested in Fundsmith for many years and regularly attends their annual shareholder meetings. In this episode he reports back from the 2026 event in London. Links: Fundsmith: https://www.fundsmith.co.uk The Desert Island Investor is generously hosted by London City based analysts Pro...

James Halstead is a UK-based manufacturer and distributor of commercial flooring products. They offer high-quality vinyl flooring solutions under their flagship brand Polyflor, plus they are the company behind 12 other well known brands in the commercial flooring market. The company was formed in 1915 and went public in 1948 where it has gained considerable kudos for having raised its investor div...

Desert Island Discord is a new series of confrontational podcasts from The Desert Island Investor Mark Atkinson. In Mark's regular podcast he reviews his own stocks, but in these episodes he will be talking about some of the more negative aspects of the world of investing that really grinds his gears. In this episode 'Secrets' he exposes the reluctance of many PLCs to keep private investors prompt...

In this episode of the podcast Mark talks about Unilever spinning off its ice-cream business into a new investment opportunity The Magnum Ice Cream Company (MICC). Mark is already a Unilever shareholder so like many others he now eagerly awaits to see how the business will perform. Paul kits out the parrots in little Salvation Army outfits for a short carol service. Merry Christmas from everyone o...

Question in a Bottle is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson answers questions sent in by listeners of his podcast The Desert Island Investor. In this episode, subscriber Christopher asks Mark, which stocks in your portfolio do you class as "the dregs"? If you would like to hear Mark's opinion on an investing-related topic, pop your question into a bottle using the em...

In this episode Mark reviews his holding in Smurfit Westrock plc (ne Smurfit Kappa) a company that continues to expand their market lead in the world of corrugated, ecommerce and retail packaging. Mark runs through the figures in detail and also talks about how their success is, at least in part, attributable to a growing international consumer class which is reshaping the global economy. Links: S...

In this episode of the podcast Mark will be discussing his investment in the Character Group plc, a company engaged in the both the design and worldwide distribution of toys, games and giftware. The business was founded in 1991 and has become a leading purveyor of famous toys such as Pepper Pig, Power Rangers, the Teletubbies, plus dozens more that Mark and I have never heard of. Links: The Charac...

Question in a Bottle is a series of short discussions where private investor Mark Atkinson answers questions sent in by listeners of his podcast The Desert Island Investor. In this episode, subscriber Joseph Harbin asks Mark, what do you think about buybacks?. If you would like to hear Mark's opinion on an investing-related topic, pop your question into a bottle using the email form on https://www...

The Intertek Group is an FTSE 100 company that provides quality assurance solutions across a wide range of industries. They’re in the business of testing, inspecting and certifying the standards that apply to everything from food production and car engine emissions, to the quality of crude oil and the safety of toys and pharmaceutical products. Mark has recently invested and in this episode he rev...

The M.P. Evans group plc supplies certified sustainable palm oil to product manufacturers worldwide. The business has an illustrious history, it ticks all the boxes with respect to ESG and through hard work and innovation it is thoroughly deserving of it's impressive market valuation. In this episode our guest castaway is Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, the current non-executive chairman and former CEO of...