Interview: Raghav Kapoor, Co-founder & CEO of Smartkarma

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Today, I have the great pleasure of talking to Raghav (“Raj”) Kapoor, CEO and co-founder of Smartkarma, an investment intelligence platform based in Singapore.

In the interview, he discusses:

• His background and what he focuses on today
• Why he founded Smartkarma, how he uses it daily
• Their recent acquisition of commodities data and insights platform Helixtap, and why he’s bullish on rubber
• What he’s learnt from spending decades investing in Asian equities
• Why he became constructive on Philippine equities in 2023
• Why he’s cautious about the Indonesian Rupiah and who might benefit
• The long-term case for Vietnam
• Stocks mentioned: Digiplus, Keepers Holdings, Ayala Land REIT, Philippines Stock Exchange, Cardig Aero Services, Pacific Textiles, and more.
• A book recommendation: Breath by James Nestor

For more information on Smartkarma, just click the link below:

All views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Smartkarma. The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. In addition, Smartkarma standard disclaimers apply.

Appendix. Raghav’s 15-point investment criteria:

1. ⁠Stick to proven growth — Smartkarma’s 3/5/10-year track records and smart scores are key
2. ⁠Invest in quality market leaders, not bargains
3. ⁠Choose businesses with strong alignment with shareholders — look for a history of growing dividends
4. ⁠Focus on solid unit economics — ROIC is more telling than ROE
5. ⁠Steer clear of low-margin businesses
6. ⁠Avoid companies with heavy debt
7. ⁠Stay away from businesses with regulatory risks
8. ⁠Be early, stay independent — even if it feels lonely
9. Be a big fish in a small pond — play where you have an edge
10. ⁠Build strong management relationships — they help you weather tough times and build conviction
11. ⁠Don’t hold positions smaller than 3%
12. ⁠Don’t chase trends
13. ⁠Focus on areas of change — markets often overlook them
14. ⁠Stick to simple investment ideas
15. ⁠Prioritize growing portfolio dividends — ignore short-term market fluctuations if dividends are rising organically