Australian small caps had one of their strongest reporting seasons in years, finishing August comfortably ahead of large caps. Resources led the way, with gold the standout and small cap gold equities amplifying the move well beyond the commodity price. Acquirers were active at the small end too, with takeover bids landing at meaningful premiums to pre-bid share prices. Small caps continue to trade below their long-run average valuation, with stronger earnings growth expected than large caps. Watch Phillip Hudak, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Maple-Brown Abbott Australian Small Companies Fund, on the key themes from the August reporting season.

Investing in quality, sustainable infrastructure assets which can offer inflation protection and low volatility. Targeting companies with stable, inflation-linked cashflows that grow over time Integrating ESG and sustainability factors throughout the investment process Experienced team including co-founders who have worked together for more than 17 years We use a tight definition of infrastructure assets, with low-volatility cashflows and inflation protection, to achieve diversification benefits with other asset classes, such as global equities. Maple-Brown Abbott Global Listed Infrastructure  – A differentiated approach to infrastructure investing We invest in listed infrastructure companies across the globe that provide essential services to society, typically…

The environment for responsible investment continues to evolve, and in certain markets the debate surrounding ESG has become increasingly polarised. Our position remains unchanged. We focus on the environmental, social and governance factors that are financially material to the companies held in the Fund, and on the management of those factors in the long-term interests of our investors. Where third-party coverage of the smaller end of the domestic market is thin, proprietary research and direct engagement with boards and management become the means by which that view is formed. Our ESG report for the Maple-Brown Abbott Australian Small Companies Fund…

FY26 was a testing year for active small cap managers. Here's what actually drove it, and why the setup from here looks more interesting. William Hanna, Investment Analyst – Maple-Brown Abbott Australian Small Companies Fund, looks beneath the index: industrials down 4% while resources rose 30%, the unwind of the crowded tech and gold trades, and a gold universe that's drastically changed. He also explains why the small caps derate over the last 12 months is the kind of discomfort that has historically preceded stronger forward returns – and why the team isn't sitting around waiting on the RBA.

At the forefront of active equity market investing for forty years. We manage investment portfolios for institutional, high net-worth and retail clients in Australia, and have clients across the world including in North America, Europe and Asia.

Our recent US trip took us across five cities, meeting management teams, industry experts and policymakers. The most valuable insights emerge from the pattern that forms when dozens of conversations begin pointing the same way. This trip surfaced five thematics, from an AI build-out that is really a story about power and connectivity to structural defence spending and a resilient US consumer. We explore what each means for finding Australian small companies on the right side of these shifts.

Materials has been the standout sector on the ASX, surging more than 45% on demand tied to the global AI build-out. But with commodity prices near multi-year highs and valuations rerating, has the rally run its course? In this episode of Livewire's Buy Hold Sell, Maple-Brown Abbott's Dougal Maple-Brown explains how the team anchors its view on a long-term price deck and names the one diversified miner he's backing for the year ahead.

The energy sector has been front and centre, caught between Middle East tensions and surging AI-driven demand – but which ASX names have real staying power? In the latest episode of Livewire's Buy Hold Sell, Dougal Maple-Brown joins Tom Stelzer to deliver his buy, hold and sell calls on Woodside, Paladin and Worley.

The information on this page has been prepared in response to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) requirements and applies to Maple-Brown Abbott Global Infrastructure Fund, which has been categorised as Article 8 under the regulation. Please note the relevant disclosures for the AMX UCITS CCF – Maple-Brown Abbott Global Infrastructure Fund are available on the AMX by Carne website. Please note the relevant disclosures for the Pacific Maple-Brown Abbott Global Infrastructure Fund are available on the Pacific Asset Management website. Sustainability risks within the SFDR are environmental, social and governance (ESG) events or conditions whose occurrence could have an…