Join Andy, Amit, and Lachlan as they unpack key takeaways from the prestigious Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in New York. From AI-driven transformations in the restaurant industry to the evolving landscape of private credit and enterprise software, this episode offers exclusive insights into the trends shaping global markets.

🍔 How AI is revolutionizing restaurant operations (Yum! Brands vs. Restaurant Brands International)
💡 ServiceNow’s expansion beyond IT budgets into real estate & labor optimization
💰 The state of private credit—stability at the top, risks in the long tail
📈 Why institutional investors are consolidating with top-tier asset managers

Tune in for expert analysis on what these trends mean for investors.

Key Timestamps & Topics Covered:

• 00:00:00 - 00:01:20 | Introduction & Conference Overview

  • Format of the Bernstein Conference (fireside chats with top CEOs).

  • Why it’s a must-attend for investors.

• 00:01:20 - 00:08:55 | AI in Restaurants: Yum! Brands vs. Rival Strategies

  • How Yum! leverages centralized AI (e.g., Byte by Yum) for supply chain, staffing, and loyalty.

  • Contrast with Restaurant Brands International’s decentralized approach.

• 00:09:29 - 00:13:57 | ServiceNow’s Expansion Beyond IT Budgets

  • Using AI to cut corporate real estate costs (e.g., a 25% footprint reduction case study).

  • Why labor and real estate budgets are now fair game for software spend.

• 00:14:57 - 00:20:03 | Private Credit: Stability at the Top, Fragmentation Below

  • Default rates remain low for institutional players (KKR, Blackstone).

  • Risks in smaller, subscale private credit funds.

• 00:20:24 - Close | The Institutional Shift to Premium Asset Managers

  • NYC Pension Fund’s consolidation from 74 managers to 45.

  • Why firms like KKR and Blackstone are winning.

    
    

    #Investing #AI #PrivateCredit #AssetManagement #BernsteinConference #ServiceNow #RestaurantTech #KKR #Blackstone

In this episode of Montaka’s Spotlight Series, Andy sits down with Amit Nath to explore the seismic shift AI agents are bringing to the global workforce. From redefining productivity to unlocking $3.7 trillion in annual labor savings, they break down how businesses like Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Google are leading the charge—and why this is just the beginning.
Key Timestamps & Topics Covered:

• 00:01:14 – What’s an AI agent? How it differs from ChatGPT.

• 00:05:13 – Real-world use cases: Salesforce, OpenTable, and Google’s AI-generated code.

• 00:11:59 – The $3.7 trillion global labor opportunity (and who captures it).

• 00:15:24 – Why data-rich platforms (like ServiceNow) have a moat.

• 00:22:21 – The shift from "seat-based" to value-based pricing in AI.

• 00:25:02 – Will AI create societal disruption? The upside for businesses.

#AIAgents #FutureOfWork #Productivity #Investing #AIRevolution #TechTrends #MontakaInsights #Technology #Insights #AndrewMacken #AmitNath #MontakaGlobal

In this episode of the Spotlight Series, Andy and Lachy unpack Amazon’s hidden flywheel: its robotics revolution. From 5-story fulfillment centers the size of 55 football fields to AI-powered sorting and packing, they explore:

• How thousands of robots are replacing human roles—safely, efficiently, and at scale.

• Why lower "cost to serve" (25% savings!) translates to faster, cheaper deliveries for customers.

• The self-reinforcing loop of AI, data, and automation—creating a flywheel within a flywheel.

• Long-term implications: autonomous trucks, drones, and last-mile robots that could redefine retail.

A must-listen for investors, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of e-commerce.

#Amazon #Robotics #AI #SupplyChain #Innovation #Logistics #Flywheel #Investing #TechTrends #FutureOfWork

In this episode of the Montaka Spotlight Podcast, Chris and Andy dive into the complexities of market valuations, focusing on why some of the world’s most advantaged companies may appear overvalued at first glance but are actually reasonably priced when you dig deeper. They discuss three key distortions—R&D spending, capital intensity, and cyclicality—that impact valuation multiples and explain why businesses like Meta, Amazon, and Blackstone are still compelling investments despite their seemingly high P/E ratios.

#InvestingInsights #MarketValuations #R&DSpending #CapitalIntensity #Cyclicality #StockMarket #Montaka #DeepSeek #Meta #Amazon #Blackstone

Unravel the impact of DeepSeek, a relatively unknown Chinese AI lab, which recently released a high-performance AI model at a fraction of the cost of leading models like OpenAI's. Deepseek's AI model, which is open-source and available for commercial use, has caused a stir in the tech world, leading to a $1 trillion wipeout in US tech stocks. Join Andy Macken and Amit Nath as they explore the implications of this breakthrough, including its potential to disrupt the AI value chain, accelerate cloud adoption, and benefit application-layer companies like Salesforce and Microsoft.

#DeepSeek #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechDisruption #OpenSource #CloudComputing #Salesforce #Microsoft #Montaka #Podcast #AIRevolution #TechMarkets #Innovation

Spotify has proven that even in a competitive landscape dominated by giants like Apple, it can thrive and grow exponentially. In this final Spotlight Series podcast of 2024, Senior Research Analyst Lachlan Mackay joins host Andy, to break down the core reasons behind Spotify's impressive stock performance and rapid profitability.

From the power of the ad-supported funnel and minimal churn to aggressive cost controls and groundbreaking partnerships with music labels, Spotify is reaping the rewards of strategic investments and operational efficiency. But the company isn't done yet—Lachlan shares what’s next for Spotify, including further pricing power, new features, and expanded content offerings. This episode offers listeners an in-depth understanding of why Spotify continues to smash expectations and what’s on the horizon for the streaming giant.

Key timestamps:

00:00:03 - 00:00:17

Introduction to the episode

00:01:00 - 00:02:03

Overview of Spotify's Growth

00:02:26 - 00:03:06

Ad-Supported Funnel: Lachlan discusses how Spotify's ad-supported tier serves as a gateway to premium growth, driving user engagement and improving retention.

00:04:15 - 00:04:53

Comparison with Apple Music

00:05:24 - 00:06:28

Price Hikes and Minimal Churn

00:06:53 - 00:07:33

Bundling and Gross Margin Improvements

00:08:59 - 00:09:42

Leverage Over Music Labels: The shift in bargaining power between Spotify and the music industry, as Spotify now has more influence due to its large user base and data insights.

00:11:06 - 00:11:40

Aggressive Cost Controls

00:12:55 - 00:14:42

Free Cash Flow and Profitability

00:15:13 - 00:16:48

Future Growth Prospects: Lachlan discusses Spotify's potential for continued growth, focusing on expanding its user base, adding new content (audiobooks, video), and improving personalization.

#Podcast #StockTip #Equities #BuyHoldSell #Global #Listed #SpotifyGrowth #BusinessSuccess #Streaming #StockMarket #SpotifySuccess #MusicIndustry #TechPodcast #GrowthStrategy #FinancialPerformance

Elite triathlete Sam Musgrove shares his remarkable journey from rugby to completing the Ironman World Championships. Learn about mental toughness, strategic goal-setting, and how the disciplines of endurance sports parallel success in business and life.

💪 How do you tackle a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and a full marathon? "It's like any project - break it into manageable chunks"

Discover how Sam Musgrove transformed from a 105kg rugby player to placing 5th globally in his age group at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Key Episode Timestamps

• 00:03 - Introduction and background
• 01:16 - Sam's transition from rugby to triathlon
• 09:46 - Race nutrition and fourth discipline
• 14:20 - Detailed breakdown of Kona race experience
• 24:58 - Mental strategies during tough moments
• 31:02 - Insights on personal achievement

• 
  

  #IronmanTriathlon #MentalToughness #HighPerformance #Leadership

We added one new 'compounder' investment to Montaka's portfolio during the quarter: Floor & Decor (FND), a US-based big box specialty retailer of hard-surface flooring. In this month's podcast, Andy and Chris explain why we believe FND is primed for long-term earnings growth and, yet remains underappreciated by the market today.

#global #equities #Stockpicking #MontakaGlobal #FloornDecor #FND