Shares in investment management firm Challenger Ltd [ASX:CGF] sold off by nearly 3% today, bucking the upward trend of the broader market. Challenger may have hit a short-term price ceiling after hitting all-time highs last week…the stock was down as much as 5% intraday.
This looks like a classic case of a stock that needs a breather after a brilliant run. The shares have gained almost 100% in just 11 months. That’s a fantastic return for a large-cap stock.
Meanwhile, there’s some chatter today that Challenger might look to expand its funds management business into the European markets as a new avenue of growth. That would likely involve opening an office in London which would bring higher fixed costs and potential execution risk.
After a strong run, investors can become wary of companies that are taking on new risks. It looks like that’s why the stock got marked down today.
You shouldn’t be too concerned by one down day for Challenger after so many up days. The company remains strongly leveraged to a demographic trend that should continue to play out for years to come…more Australian retirees demanding annuities and wealth management services. This stock could continue to reward patient investors well into the future.
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Tim Dohrmann+
Small-Cap Analyst, Australian Small-Cap Investigator