The Desert Island Investor

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 2024 event in London. The Desert Island Investor podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research . You'll als...

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, podcast subscriber BRUCIE5 asks Mark "When do you sell your stocks?". 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....

Entain plc (ENT) is an international sports-betting and gambling company. It owns many well known betting brands including Coral, Ladbrokes, PartyPoker, Sportingbet and Foxy Bingo. In this episode of the podcast Mark explains the slightly complex story behind his holding in Entain and gives his thoughts on investing in the gambling sector. The Desert Island Investor podcast is generously hosted by...

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, podcast subscriber BRUCIE5 asks Mark "What are your top 5 stocks?". Question in a Bottle and The Desert Island Investor podcast are generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research ....

James Halstead plc is a UK based company which is primarily engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of commercial floor coverings. Their geographical area includes Europe and Scandinavia, Australasia, Asia and the Rest of the World. In this festive episode Mark runs through the figures and outlines his confidence in the company as a long term investment. Paul reads the parrots a Christmas po...

Somero Enterprises Inc. manufactures innovative laser-guided machinery used in horizontal concrete installations. Their equipment is used to ensure that the concrete floors of large warehouses are perfectly level and safe. In this episode Mark discusses the qualities of the company and the potential for growth in light of the increasing demand for online-shopping fulfilment centres. Paul threatens...

Unilever Plc is a manufacturer and supplier of fast-moving consumer goods with over 400 brands to its name. The company's portfolio comprises food products, beauty and personal care products, beverages, home care products, vitamins, minerals and supplements. In this episode of the podcast Mark reviews the organisation as one of his core holdings. Paul gives one of the island's parrots a Unilever b...

Focusrite plc is a global music and audio products group that develops and markets proprietary hardware and software products. Their solutions are used by audio professionals and amateur musicians alike in the quest for the highest possible quality of both live and studio recordings. In this episode of the podcast Mark reviews the company in respect to its solid performance as one of his smaller h...

Our guest castaway Tom Entwistle washed up on the beach this morning and in payment for his safe return to the mainland he has to endure a grilling from Mark. In this episode Tom talks about his success in property investing and the challenges that the market faces. Plus he reveals the story behind the incredibly popular online resource for UK landlords, Landlord Zone. The Desert Island Investor p...

Greggs seem to be going from strength to strength at the moment and this is one of Mark's core stocks. In this episode he talks in detail about Greggs and explains the compelling investment argument. Paul visits the new Greggs drive-through in Bolton to sample their cheese and onion bake. The 'Question in a Bottle' is from Jonathan Murphy who asks Mark, does director trading influence you? The Des...

Smurfit Kappa is a FTSE 100 company and one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging in the world with operations in over 30 countries. In this episode of the podcast Mark explains why he has maintained faith in Smurfit Kappa through thick and thin. Paul points out that they even make a cardboard tent. The 'Question in a Bottle' this time is from David Raywood who asks Mark to explain, wh...

STRIX (KETL) is based on the Isle of Man and is the company behind a patented bi-metallic thermostatic switch which can be found in homes around the world. Applications include kettles, irons and toasters. Through a series of acquisitions the company has also diversified into water filtration products and a remarkable system that delivers chilled, ambient or boiling water from a single tap at the...

On the basis that less is more, the quest for less CO2 emissions will undoubtedly require the production of more copper wiring and copper components as the world focuses on renewable energy and electric vehicles. In this episode Mark explains that although he is not a fan of mining stocks, he is nonetheless happy to have Central Asia Metals (CAML) in his portfolio. The 'Question in a Bottle' this...

Tesco supermarket (TSCO) is just one of several options if you're looking to add a large-cap retail business to your portfolio. In this episode of the podcast Mark explains why he invested in Tesco and why he has held that investment for so long. He breaks down his investment argument into 5 categories that will be useful for anyone thinking of investing in a supermarket. The 'Question in a Bottle...

Jeremy McKeown has worked in the City for over 4 decades in both fund management and stockbroking. He is currently a well respected investment consultant and he also hosts the popular podcast 'In the company of Mavericks' on Spotify and other podcasting channels. In this episode Mark talks at length with Jeremy about his journey and Paul heads off to the mainland for some rest and recreation. The...

Will a cold stock warm up again? This is the question that Mark faced with his holding in Titon Holdings (TON), so he went off on a fact-finding mission to get a clearer picture of how his investment might pan out in the future. In this episode he reviews the stock, explains the challenges that the company was facing and reveals how the management is addressing those challenges. The 'Question in a...

In this episode of the podcast Mark reviews the latest addition to his portfolio, sustainable palm oil producer M.P. Evans (MPE). M.P. Evans Group PLC owns oil-palm plantations in Indonesia and also has an investment in a property company in Malaysia. Its shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange AIM. The 'Question in a Bottle' this time is from Mark's wife Elaine who asks Mark, if you are pl...

In this podcast, Mark provides his feedback from attending the Fundsmith Annual Shareholder's Meeting as well as the first Fundsmith regional event in Manchester. Fundsmith, under the guidance of legendary portfolio manager Terry Smith, invest in equities on a global basis and the company’s approach is to be a long-term investor in its chosen stocks. The 'Question in a Bottle' is from Matt Ellis w...

In this episode, Mark provides his personal review of touch screen manufacturer Zytronic (ZYT) and talks about his experience of attending their 2023 AGM. Zytronic are global leaders in providing touch screen solutions that are durable and responsive. The Zytronics Group operates from three modern factories which are all located on a single site in the United Kingdom. The question in a bottle is f...

In this first episode of his new podcast, Mark explains his basic philosophy about investing and also provides a personal review of a recent addition to his portfolio, MTI Wireless Edge (MWE). This Israeli company is a world leader in the development and production of antenna solutions for both military and commercial markets. The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that documen...