Identifying powerful trends

We identify powerful secular growth trends that are transforming the world, driven by structural forces of change such as globalization, population growth, and the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions.

Investing in high-conviction, long-term themes

Our strategies are designed to harness the power of long-term themes, unlocking compelling investment opportunities for our clients.

Security and safety

AI, robotics and automation

Innovative healthcare

Infrastructure

Environmental technologies

Energy transition

Focusing on pure-play stocks

Our pure-play focus maximizes exposure to the themes. It leads to greater exposure to small companies and gives clients diversification away from well-known index stocks.

Our investment universe

Global equity universe

~40,000
stocks

ESG screened and liquid

~25,000
stocks

Broad thematic universe

~500
stocks per theme

Pure-play universe

~250
stocks per theme

The purity our strategies offer provides high exposure to the underlying themes and generally little overlap with other investments
– Angus Muirhead, Head of Thematic Equities

Did you know that?

Our pure-play approach focuses on companies that generate at least 50 percent of revenues from the theme.

There are around 200 to 300 securities in each pure-play thematic investment universe.

We have managed pure-play thematic equity strategies since 2006 when we launched the security and safety strategy.

We invest for the long-term, taking a seven-to-ten year view in our investment decisions.

The Thematic Advisory Board gives our investment team access to experts from industry and academia.

Opportunities

  • High exposure to powerful long-term secular growth themes
  • Fully invested, unlevered equity funds with daily liquidity
  • Diversified portfolios of 40 to 60 stocks, with typical maximum 4 percent holding in any security
  • High active share, providing exposure to many smaller, non-index companies
  • Expanding and evolving investment universe opens new investment opportunities
  • Bottom-up stock selection based on fundamental analysis and ESG research
  • Team of specialist portfolio managers supported by the Thematic Advisory Board

Risks

  • Equity markets can be volatile. Investors may lose part or all of their investment
  • A focus on specific themes can lead to significant sector, country, and regional exposure
  • Exposure to small and mid-caps may result in higher short-term volatility and may carry greater liquidity risk
  • Exposure to emerging markets may increase volatility
  • Sustainability and ESG considerations may have adverse impacts on stock price performance
  • In cases of significant inflows or outflows, there may be a disparity in the value date between stocks from different countries, which can result in unintended short-term currency exposures

Pure-play thematic equity investing

Exposure to megatrends shaping the future

Explore more

Trending insights on thematic equities

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Whether you have a question or a request, we will be happy to get in touch with you. Contact our UBS Asset Management team for more details.

Introducing our leadership team

Meet the members of the team responsible for UBS Asset Management’s strategic direction.

Meet the team

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