Capital at risk

Investment strategy

Emerging Markets Leading Companies

Emerging markets (EM) firms often have substantial opportunities and decades of growth ahead. We believe being selective is imperative to achieving superior results. The index is not the best reflection of future growth.

An aerial view of Vietnamese women fishing with traditional nets in shallow water with their wooden boats nearby.

A patient approach in impatient markets

A well-developed approach to investing in the developing world, which aims to help our clients benefit from powerful growth tailwinds. EM investors should be open-minded about where growth can come from. 

Emerging Markets: our philosophy

Investment manager William Sutcliffe introduces Emerging Markets, reflecting on the exciting opportunities ahead.

Turning time to your advantage

We’ve been investing in emerging markets for decades. Our goal is to build strong relationships with like-minded clients. We know we can only do this if we deliver strong investment performance, net of costs, over the long term.  

The number of genuinely world-class companies in the emerging markets is growing, and we feel very fortunate to be tasked with seeking these out. We must invest with patience and give good decisions time to prove themselves. 

Long-standing clients across the globe

We appreciate the under appreciated. And we believe there are three persistent inefficiencies that we are well-placed to exploit for our clients: 

  • Growth duration: many companies grow for much longer than expected 
  • Growth pace: many companies grow much faster than expected 
  • Growth surprise: many companies grow when it’s least expected 

Much of our process relies on the interplay of data, experience, educated creativity and probability. This does not necessarily lend itself to a matrix or a flowchart. 

In nearly 30 years, we have seen enough crises and shocks to know the future is uncertain. As investors our preference is always to embrace uncertainty rather than be paralysed by it.
Will SutcliffeHead of Emerging Markets, Partner

Meet the managers

Documents

Quarterly update

Get the latest investment commentary, portfolio overview, transactions and performance information alongside governance engagement and voting. 

Philosophy and process

Explore our investment philosophy and the processes around how the Emerging Markets team construct the portfolio.

Invest through other vehicles

Get in touch to learn about the other ways to invest, including:

  • Separate account

Strategy portfolio holdings

A list of the top 10 holdings that the representative portfolio invests in.

All figures up to: 30 September 2024

#CompanyFund %
1TSMC13.5%
2Tencent7.1%
3Samsung Electronics6.4%
4MercadoLibre4.8%
5Petrobras Common ADR4.2%
6Ping An Insurance3.6%
7HDFC Bank3.1%
8Meituan2.7%
9First Quantum Minerals2.4%
10Reliance Industries Ltd2.2%

Strategy holdings by sector

All figures up to: 30 September 2024

1Information Technology27.96%
2Financials22.31%
3Consumer Discretionary19.19%
4Communication Services11.00%
5Energy8.43%
6Materials5.28%
7Consumer Staples2.87%
8Industrials2.45%
9Cash0.51%
Total 100%

Strategy holdings by sector

All figures up to: 30 September 2024

Total: 100%

Please note

The information contained on this page is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. All holdings information is unaudited. Source Baillie Gifford & Co. Please note that totals may not add due to rounding.

Invest through other vehicles

Get in touch to learn about the other ways to invest, including:

  • Separate account

Insights

Key articles, videos and podcasts relating to the strategy:

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Insights

Viewing 21 of 21
  1. Samsung: chipping away at challenges

    How Samsung turns challenges into opportunities for future growth.
    December 2024
    Article3 minutes
  2. The rise of the Global South

    Unpacking the BRICS summit's outcomes, the Global South's rise and implications for EM investors.
    October 2024
    Article3 minutes
  3. Emerging Markets Q3 investor letter

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments
    October 2024
    Article6 minutes
  4. Emerging Markets Q3 update

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2024
    Video16 minutes
  5. Travelling Brazil: open for business

    We share the trip notes from our time in Brazil, highlighting the energy sector, sustainability and fintech.
    September 2024
    Article3 minutes
  6. Traffic during twilight of Shanghai China, motion blur visible.

    The brilliance of Brilliance

    Brilliance China Automotive's journey with its partnership, BMW, through governance, engagement, and value.
    August 2024
    Article3 minutes
  7. Traditional Chinese doors with brass lion head door knockers and ornamental studs. The doors are open letting in light.

    China’s third plenum: staying the tech course

    Unveil China's third plenum resolutions focusing on AI, biotech, and renewable energies amid global challenges.
    July 2024
    Article3 minutes
  8. Emerging Markets Q2 update

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    July 2024
    Video10 minutes
  9. Shareholders are seated in an auditorium, some are raising their hands to vote

    Emerging markets democracy: better than you think

    See what the recent elections in Mexico and India mean for emerging markets investors.
    June 2024
    Article3 minutes
  10. From earth to equity: the platinum opportunity

    Platinum's role in health, tech and green energy.
    May 2024
    Article4 minutes
  11. Will Sutcliffe

    Emerging Markets: our philosophy

    Investment manager William Sutcliffe introduces Emerging Markets, reflecting on the exciting opportunities ahead.
    May 2024
    Video4 minutes
  12. Luckin Coffee: looking forward

    How Luckin Coffee is revolutionising China's coffee culture.
    April 2024
    Article3 minutes
  13. Women in orange saris carrying water at step well in Jaipur, India

    30 years of emerging markets

    Baillie Gifford’s Will Sutcliffe explains how emerging markets have evolved in the last three decades.
    April 2024
    Article15 minutes
  14. High-calibre emerging markets firms

    Why it’s a promising time to invest in exceptional emerging markets companies
    April 2024
    Podcast4 minutes
  15. Emerging Markets Q1 update

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    April 2024
    Video12 minutes
  16. How do we do what we do

    How do we implement our emerging markets equities philosophy in practice?
    January 2024
    Document
  17. Why do we do what we do

    Andrew Keiller and John Rae look at why we invest in emerging markets equities in the way that we do.
    December 2023
    Document
  18. China: fear or FOMO?

    Ben Buckler on how investors should steer between the twin poles of risk in China.
    December 2023
    Article5 minutes
  19. Why growth, why now?

    Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.
    December 2023
    Article17 minutes
  20. Emerging markets – why bother?

    Emerging markets have underperformed developed ones recently. So, why should we invest in them?
    November 2023
    Article
  21. Finding China’s A-share jewels

    The country’s domestic markets are rich in companies with the know-how to become global leaders.
    September 2023
    Article

Emerging Markets Q3 update

The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.

  1. Emerging Markets Q3 investor letter

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments
    October 2024
    Article6 minutes
  2. Emerging Markets Q3 update

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2024
    Video16 minutes
  3. Emerging Markets Q2 update

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    July 2024
    Video10 minutes
  4. Will Sutcliffe

    Emerging Markets: our philosophy

    Investment manager William Sutcliffe introduces Emerging Markets, reflecting on the exciting opportunities ahead.
    May 2024
    Video4 minutes
  5. Women in orange saris carrying water at step well in Jaipur, India

    30 years of emerging markets

    Baillie Gifford’s Will Sutcliffe explains how emerging markets have evolved in the last three decades.
    April 2024
    Article15 minutes
  6. High-calibre emerging markets firms

    Why it’s a promising time to invest in exceptional emerging markets companies
    April 2024
    Podcast4 minutes
  7. Emerging Markets Q1 update

    The Emerging Markets Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    April 2024
    Video12 minutes
  8. How do we do what we do

    How do we implement our emerging markets equities philosophy in practice?
    January 2024
    Document
  9. Why do we do what we do

    Andrew Keiller and John Rae look at why we invest in emerging markets equities in the way that we do.
    December 2023
    Document
  10. China: fear or FOMO?

    Ben Buckler on how investors should steer between the twin poles of risk in China.
    December 2023
    Article5 minutes
  11. Why growth, why now?

    Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.
    December 2023
    Article17 minutes
  12. Emerging markets – why bother?

    Emerging markets have underperformed developed ones recently. So, why should we invest in them?
    November 2023
    Article
  13. Finding China’s A-share jewels

    The country’s domestic markets are rich in companies with the know-how to become global leaders.
    September 2023
    Article

Invest through other vehicles

Get in touch to learn about the other ways to invest, including:

  • Separate account

Invest through other vehicles

Get in touch to learn about the other ways to invest, including:

  • Separate account