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Massif Capital Q4 2025 Letter To Investors
Seeking Alpha· 2026-01-19 10:17
Performance Summary - The Massif Capital Real Assets Strategy achieved a 9.6% net return in Q4 2025, resulting in a full-year performance of 50.0% net of fees [2] - Gross gains from the long book were 13.3%, while the short book detracted 1.64% [2] - The strategy has a since-inception annualized return of 15.6% net of fees over 28 consecutive quarters [2] Key Contributors - Equinox Gold (EQX) was the largest contributor, adding 11.8% to the portfolio, followed by G-Mining Ventures (GMINF) at 10.1% and Lundin Mining (LUNMF) at 8.6% [3] - Gold equities were the dominant source of returns, contributing 23.7% to the portfolio, with base and critical metals close behind at 19.5% [4] Sector Performance - Oil and natural gas holdings generated a modest positive contribution of 1.5%, primarily from dividend income [4] - Sector-level losses were confined to industrials, while gold equities and base metals showed strong performance [4] Market Sentiment - The equity market enters 2026 with a constructive tone, though a sizable bearish minority remains, indicating mixed investor sentiment [5][6] - Investor conviction is heavily tilted toward US equities, despite strong global performance, with expectations of US outperformance dominating [6] Geopolitical and Economic Context - Concerns about long-term monetary and fiscal policy trajectories, as well as geopolitical instability, are influencing investor behavior [8][9] - Central bank gold accumulation, particularly from emerging markets and China, is expected to continue, reinforcing gold's role as a monetary asset [9] Oil Market Outlook - Oil enters 2026 with bearish sentiment, influenced by geopolitical risks and a surplus market [10][32] - The International Energy Agency estimates that global oil production could decline by approximately 5.5 mb/d annually without new investment [38] Copper Market Dynamics - Copper miners and developers represent the largest single investment theme, with core holdings showing significant gains [43] - The copper market is characterized by structural tightness due to supply constraints and strong demand dynamics, with spot treatment charges collapsing to record lows [44][45] Portfolio Adjustments - The portfolio's exposure to gold has narrowed, with a single 10% position in Equinox Gold, which rose 179% in 2025 [26] - The company is actively searching for another gold miner that meets its investment criteria [31] Future Investment Strategy - The company anticipates a shift towards a more eclectic mix of real-asset businesses, including opportunities in wind power and niche chemical manufacturers [58] - A rebalancing away from a mining-centric portfolio is expected as the current commodity upswing broadens [57]