The Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price is down more than 14% after the fund manager announced its funds under management (FUM) for September 2023.
Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price
September pain
Magellan revealed that over the month to 29 September 2023, its FUM dropped to $35 billion, down from $39 billion at 31 August 2023.
The global shares strategy saw a decline in FUM of $3.3 billion to $15.3 billion, the infrastructure strategy saw FUM decline by $600 million to $15.1 billion and the Australian shares segment saw a decline of FUM to $4.6 billion.
In September, Magellan experienced net outflows of $2 billion, which included net retail outflows of $0.3 billion and net institutional outflows of $1.7 billion. This could be the key reason for the Magellan share price decline.
That means that Magellan’s investment portfolios saw a $2 billion decline due to investment performance, while the other $2 billion came from outflows.
This is quite disappointing because it seemed as though Magellan was reaching a turning point with both its investment performance as well as investor confidence pulling their money out.
Is the Magellan share price an opportunity?
It’s hard to say that it is a good opportunity. If FUM keeps falling then the total could reach $30 billion or even lower. It may be cheap today if the FUM stops falling, but it’s not cheap if the FUM halves from here.
Investment returns are usually a useful tailwind for fund managers, but only if investors aren’t taking out billions every month.
The business is losing economies of scale benefits as it becomes smaller. Fund managers don’t need much capital to grow, and they don’t need to keep hiring 10% more people every time the FUM grows by 10%. Profitability accelerates as FUM grows, but the opposite happens as it becomes smaller. Profit is sinking at Magellan.
Look at GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) instead – it’s seeing solid FUM inflows every quarter. In the September quarter, its FUM inflows were US$1.8 billion. It also has good long-term investment performance for its funds.
GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) share price
I’d much rather go for GQG over Magellan at the current Magellan share price.
