Top 10

For good or bad, the headlines came from the US. While the function of the social network is being questioned and reviewed, the long-term outlook does not change—users and corporations will make use of media facilities more than ever. With the Senate and the White House now under Democratic control, investors found renewed optimism in the prospect of a further, Democratic-led, much-needed fiscal stimulus. This reinforces our positive stand on equities, in particular on small caps, which should benefit from consumer support.

TV Advertising Moving to Online Companies TV networks and content producers manage an annual USD 163 billion ad spend (of which about USD 63 billion goes to the US market). Until 2020, the allocation management event occurred each year in May – but COVID-19 ruined not only this year's event, but also the allocation plans. With major sports events being cancelled, postponed or scheduled with very short notice, advertisers are forced to adhere to a more proactive allocation model. COVID-19 may have come at an opportune time, as changes were already in the air. Disruptors offer a growing number of consumers, better measurability, and real-time pricing. Competing Digital platforms will be measured in key areas, such as - Consistent delivery and latency rate, - High-quality reach, and - Coverage of consumer segments.

Contactless Payments Most recent analysis suggests that the “new normal” will have to wait until 3rd quarter 2021, which in turn could give this new technology time to embed itself in consumer habits and grow permanent roots. We expect that the shift is likely to accelerate; a new secular growth trend is therefore in the making. Most recent analysis suggests that the “new normal” will have to wait until 3rd quarter 2021, which in turn could result that the payment behavior adopted during the pandemic has more legs to run than initially expected. We expect that the shift is likely to accelerate; a new secular growth trend is therefore in the making.

Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB's) were hardest hit by the lockdowns. While proximity to their most valuable customers is certainly an advantage, getting information about their products and services out to the wider community will remain a challenge. We see considerable opportunities for social media platforms to provide plug-and-play solutions for SMB's. At present, just a fraction of these companies actively use advertising services. Moving forward, this number is expected to grow. For social apps, building a digital town is a feasible challenge because the required elements work very well independently; these include real-time inventory management, contactless payment systems, and delivery logistics.

Accessing Data as Market Differentiator The Data Decade (Huberty) was accelerated as a result of the pandemic. The 10-year investment cycle gained speed and precision in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, automation, and industrial internet of things. It is about sink or swim! Companies were forced to leverage into technology fields in order to maintain some modicum of activity during the lockdown. Social-distancing measures have heightened the need to access remote data, interactions, and process steps. IDC expects an 87% compound annual growth in total AR/VR spending over the next 4 years, reaching USD 128 billion 2 years from now. While the use of AI/AR will be very niche, such as in consumer gaming, a far more pronounced application can be expected in sectors such as healthcare, retail, real estate, and education.

Healthcare Technology Many analysts with a following expect Healthcare to be strong in 2021. While legacy healthcare sector companies are predominately “Value,” new entrants are by definition “Growth.” We strongly believe that these companies will continue to lead the way across the entire sector well beyond 2021. Recent developments suggest that healthcare technology companies will make ever-increasing use of machine learning (i.e., artificial intelligence), cloud computing, and Big Data. As with other industry activities, the impact of pandemic stay-at-home orders has catapulted some little-known companies into the spotlight. For example, companies specializing in chemical simulation software can help scientists discover new molecular compounds much more quickly than in the past. Although many of these technologies were available in the past, their actual use has burgeoned during the pandemic. Healthcare deals in the air In 2020, M&A activity in the healthcare sector was below average; one can expect that 2021 will display some catch-up effects. In fact, reputable investors have begun to express a growing interest in the sector. As of the end of 2020, there are approximately 100 Special-Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPAC) that have a purse of USD 100 billion standing by with the aim of seeking M&A opportunities. Get the analyses of the companies involved here.