Buy Hold Sell, by Livewire Markets

If you've been following the story of small caps for a while, you would know that as early as 2024, some investors were talking about a recovery in small caps given the performance gap relative to their larger peers. For a good period of time, that promise went unfulfilled. But good things come to those who wait, and in 2025, small caps have staged a genuine comeback - so much so that they’re now...

Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are you're aware of the resurgence in small-cap stocks. The ASX Small Ordinaries is up 19% year-to-date, versus just 7% for the ASX 100. But it's not just a rotation away from growth-starved large caps that is seeing smalls catch a bid. The recent reporting season showed that many small caps are in rude health, with strong balance sheets and improved...

Over the past few episodes, we’ve galloped through our Spring Racing Carnival series - from the “stayers” built to go the distance, to the “wet-track wonders” that hold their footing when conditions turn tough. And now, as we thunder down the home straight, it’s time for the Photo Finish. In this final instalment, we’re doing things a little differently. Rather than our usual stock-by-stock format...

Winter might be over, but in markets, the clouds can roll in at any time. And when they do, only the sure-footed survive. With the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in full swing, we’re once again taking inspiration from the track - this time, looking for the “wet-track wonders” of the ASX.  These are the companies that can handle tougher terrain, those with strong balance sheets, reliable earnings...

Spring has arrived, and with it, the familiar buzz of the racing season in Melbourne - where form, endurance, and timing can make all the difference. It’s not just the horses gearing up for a big run - investors, too, are scanning the field for those rare “stayers” that can go the distance. In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, we’re drawing inspiration from the track to talk about the enduring perfor...

Sometimes, the best opportunities aren’t in the headlines. While the market chases momentum, savvy investors know that real alpha often comes from spotting quality before the crowd does, and knowing when to step aside when things get a little too hot. In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, host  Anna Dadic  is joined by small-cap specialists  Matt Griffin  from Maple Brown-Abbott and  Luke Laretive  fr...

Small caps are in comeback mode, and investors are starting to take notice. After years in the doldrums, this once-unloved corner of the market is showing real signs of life, with the index surging more than 20% year to date. But is this rally built on solid foundations, or is it just another short-term burst of optimism? In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, host  Anna Dadic  is joined by  Matt Griff...

When it comes to small caps, investors tend to fall into two camps: those who see risk and those who see opportunity. With a small-cap comeback underway, the latter camp might just be onto something. While this part of the market can be volatile and under-researched, it’s also fertile ground for stock pickers with a sharp eye and thick skin. In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire’s  Anna Dadic...

This year's NRL Finals have been dominated by the players with the magic touch showing up when needed. But which companies are doing the same thing on the ASX? Who are the real MVPs and who are the also-rans?  In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire's Tom Stelzer is joined by Tim Riordan from Blackwattle and Brenton Saunders from Pendal to offer their verdicts on the companies showing strong ga...

This episode was filmed Wednesday, 24th September 2025. The siren might have sounded on another AFL season, but when it comes to markets, the game next stops.  With the ASX trading near record highs and valuations stretching common sense, investors are asking the big question: how do you protect the scoreboard when conditions turn tough? As the saying goes, attack wins you games, but defence wins...

Growth stocks by definition are going to run hot from time to time, but as the old saying goes: form is temporary, class is permanent. In a year that's seen a surprisingly resilient stock market, some names have taken the ball and run with it. But it's where they go next that matters. In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire's Tom Stelzer is joined by Tim Riordan from Blackwattle and Brenton Sau...

Facebook (now Meta) founder Mark Zuckerberg coined the phrase “move fast and break things” – a catchy motto designed to celebrate speed and experimentation. But as investors know, speed counts for little if a company can’t cross the Rubicon from potential to profitability. That’s the real test: turning hype into hard dollars. Profitability is the finish line, and plenty of flashy contenders never...

We all love a compelling growth story, but how do you tell whether you're buying substance or sizzle? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most exciting - and sometimes most dangerous - areas of the market: innovation.  It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot, but how do you tell the difference between a company with a slick marketing pitch and one that’s genuinely building something tr...

It's September, and that means football finals - time to separate the contenders from the pretenders, as they say.  It's no different when hunting for opportunities on the ASX, particularly when it comes to the innovators - those companies pushing boundaries, reshaping industries, and trying to become the market leaders of tomorrow.  But as every investor knows, backing innovation isn’t as simple...

Reporting season already feels like a lifetime ago, given how fast markets are moving these days, but some results - both good and bad - will have a lasting impact. A great set of results and positive share price reaction can reset a company's trajectory, both operationally and in the minds of investors. Suddenly, a middling company with a middling share price can look like a world-beater - though...

Reporting season is always full of surprises, and this one didn’t disappoint.  Some companies smashed expectations, sending share prices soaring, while others stumbled badly and left investors wondering what went wrong. And then, of course, there were the quiet achievers, delivering solid results without making much noise. To help us cut through the chaos, Livewire's Anna Dadic is joined by Ben Ru...

While the aggregate numbers suggest this August reporting season hasn’t been as volatile as previous ones—at least when looking at average share price moves on beats and misses—several big-name stocks have experienced outsized reactions. CSL, Woolworths and James Hardie were punished, while Coles, Brambles, and REA Group fared far better. Such sharp swings among large-cap “reliable” names have mad...

Despite having a world-class healthcare industry and some equally impressive companies, the ASX healthcare sector has been code blue over the last 12 months and is in dire need of a defibrillator.  The sector has been the third-worst performer over the period, down around 2%. So, what gives? Well, COVID didn't help, and healthcare companies have never been 'cheap' historically, but it does beg the...

There’s something stirring in the ASX property sector. With interest rates finally trending lower, the landscape for real estate investment is beginning to shift. Cheaper financing, improving asset valuations, and a potential tailwind for yield-focused investors all mean that property stocks are starting to look a lot more compelling. While they’ve been out of favour in recent times, could we now...

There has been a lot of focus on the banks over the past 12 months, and fair enough. Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has traded more like a growth stock, and its unexpected trajectory has warped not only its valuation but those of its peers.  Whilst debate about the reasons for CBA's rally rages on, investors might do well to remember that the ASX financials sector comprises more than just the Big Four -...

With the headline yield for the ASX 200 now sub 4%, generating a decent yield from equities has become more challenging in recent years. There are a couple of factors investors can screen for, however, to make the task a little easier. First and foremost, make sure to look for companies with an above-market yield – otherwise, you might as well just buy the market. In this case, the line in the san...

In this income-focused episode of Buy Hold Sell, to celebrate Livewire’s 2025 Income Series kicking off, we’re tackling one of the most beloved - and fiercely defended - corners of the Australian market: fully franked dividends. To help make sense of the dividend landscape in 2025 and beyond, Livewire’s James Marlay is joined by two seasoned pros: Peter Gardner from Plato Investment Management and...

Investing is rarely black and white, but one of the most enduring debates in equity markets is this: Do you chase the proven performers at a premium, or take a punt on the underpriced underdogs? In this episode, we’re putting that question to the test. Joining Livewire's Chris Conway are two seasoned portfolio managers, Hamish FitzSimons of AllianceBernstein and Dougal Maple-Brown from Maple-Brown...

With the ASX hovering near all-time highs, you’d be forgiven for thinking the value train has left the station. But is that really the case? Or are there still pockets of opportunity hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, we dig into whether there’s any genuine value left in the market, and where two leading investors are finding it. Dougal Maple-Brown from Maple-Brown Abbott and...

No matter which factor you like, clear-cut winners are hard to find. Why? Because quality is rarely cheap and value can be anything but. So in this episode, we're going to keep it simple by running the ruler over five ASX names with strong balance sheets. These are companies that boast robust financial foundations: low debt, consistent cash flows, and disciplined capital management. Such businesse...