The Cristal Challenge runs until October, with participants picking five local stocks (no ETFs or sub-20c stocks) to hold through the year.

Simon’s picks include a mix of stable “banker” stocks and speculative plays:

Richemont*:

• High-end luxury giant with strong fundamentals and global market appeal despite challenges in China.
• Trading near R3,500, with long-term potential boosted by luxury market recovery and stable global demand.

Shoprite*:

• Dominant grocery retailer in South Africa, benefiting from market share growth and diversified business lines like 60/60 delivery.
• A steady performer with consistent earnings growth and market dominance, trading at a PE of 24.

ADvTech*:

• Education sector leader, well-positioned to meet growing private schooling and tertiary education demands.
• Education giant trading below its historical PE average, supported by asset-light growth strategies.

Calgro M3*:

• Affordable housing developer, thriving on demand for low-to-mid-income housing in South Africa.
• Value pick with a PE below 3 and a focus on affordable housing, addressing a critical market need.

Purple Group*:

• Innovator behind EasyEquities, leveraging platform fees and expanded product offerings to drive revenue growth.
• Growth potential through EasyEquities' platform fees, rising customer base, and additional financial products.

Simon Brown

* I hold ungeared positions.

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TSMC’s Record-Breaking Results

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) hit $26 billion in quarterly revenue.
A strong contender in the AI supply chain with growing global operations.

Gold: Continuing the Bull Run

Gold remains a strong investment pick for Simon, with a potential to hit $3,000/oz.

Gold | Weekly | 21 January 2025

Brent Crude Oil Concerns

Rising oil prices could hurt both the global and South African economies.

Trump Meme Coins & Meme Coin Mania

Trump and Melania meme coins: Novelty or nonsense? Simon unpacks the hype.

Grinrod & Mozambique Challenges

Operational risks in Mozambique but potential opportunities with Transnet’s private rail plans.

Sasol: A Case of Caution

Chemical spin-offs and high oil prices spark discussion, but Simon isn’t convinced to buy.

Cristal  Challenge

Simon’s picks for the Cristal  Crystal Challenge: Shoprite*, Purple Group*, ADvtTch*, Calgro M3*, and Richemont*.

Simon Brown

* I hold ungeared positions.

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For the twelfth year in a row Marc Ashton, Keith McLachlan & Simon Brown get together and make three predictions each for year ahead.

They then also give their expectations for the local Top40 index and the Rand against the US$.

But first every year they start by scoring their previous year predictions to keep things real and honest.