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Quest Smart Alpha Sector Rotation

AUM ( cr) | Inc Date (1-May-2022)

Scheme Rating

IME Scheme Rating

3 of 5 stars

Quest Smart Alpha Sector Rotation is an open-ended CAT III AIF that employs a flexi-cap approach, typically holding around 20-25 stocks. The fund actively engages in sector rotation, seeking out sectors experiencing tailwinds and avoiding those facing headwinds.

IME Strategy Rating

3 of 5 stars

The fund would be focused on sector & stock rotation as key strategy trying to identify the right sectors & company at right time and have concentrated exposure in them. The fund has a minimum requirement of 3 sectoral themes at any point of time, with a chance 1 or 2 emerging theme which could be added. The fund can also take aggressive cash calls accordingly to the fund manager’s view on the market.

AMC Rating

3 of 5 stars

AMC: Quest PMS (click link for detailed AMC review)

Quest AMC, founded by Ajay and Bharat Sheth, has added Aniruddha Sarkar to their team from IIFL. Despite past outperformance, recent performance is a concern. We would hold off on recommending the PMS for investments until performance improves.

PMS Scheme Ratings are driven by IME’s Proprietary Scheme Rating Methodology, which takes into account our ratings of the Scheme’s investment strategy, its maturity, the investment team, and our separate rating on the AMC that runs this particular scheme. Our views on each of these individual criteria are available via the IME RMS – which you can view by reaching out to one of our relationship managers (using either the live chat or book appointment feature on this site).

Investment Philosophy

Quest Smart Alpha Sector Rotation is a concentrated multi-cap strategy focussed on identifying 4 themes at a time across sectors in the market to generate alpha. The strategy aims to rotate across sectors actively to drive performance.

  • Rationale for Sector Rotation: Sectoral leaders change in each market cycle (this has been seen repeatedly in the past & will also continue in the future) | Identifying the right sectors helps capture the right economic and earnings cycle thereby leading to valuation re-ratings | The typical holding period of a sector or a theme will be 6-18 months 
  • Sectoral Calls: There is no magic formula for getting sector calls rights | Various factors including economy + industry dynamics + mgmt comments + financials and valuations go into picking the right sector | picking the sector is 10-20% of the job … the remaining is bottom-up
  • Company Calls & Rotations: company selection within identified sectors is a major source of value-addition | all companies in a sector do not move in tandem and a large part of alpha creation is possible by smart company selection
  • Exit: the strategy is focused not on just identifying and positioning for the upcycle | Exiting the sector at the right time is important and part of the philosophy (when valuations are rich)

PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION

  • Overview: only 4 themes at any point in time (can have many sectors) 
  • Holdings: 3-5 stocks per theme / 15-20 stocks in the portfolio
  • Cash Levels: upto 50% cash calls 

Investment Strategy

Current Themes

  • Agri economy recovery: food inflation + fertiliser subs — farmer disposable income going up | sub-sectors: agri-chem + equipment (tractors) + FMCG
  • India Manufacturing: PLI | sub-sectors: defence + white goods + auto ancs
  • Energy security: electrification + industrialisation | sub-sectors: power gen + solar and hydrogen + RM suppliers to power gen 
  • 4th theme: evaluating

Trailing Performance

1yr 3yr 5yr Since Inception
Quest Smart Alpha Sector Rotation
S&P BSE 500
Alpha over Broad Mkt BM
S&P BSE 500
Alpha over Category BM

Performance as of: 31-Mar-25 | Inception Date: 01-May-22

Fund Managers

Bharat Sheth | 5-star rated FM

Head Equities | 45 yrs Experience | 31 yrs at current firm

Bharat Sheth is a highly seasoned & respected investment professional, having spearheaded the growth of Quest’s advisory & PMS business over the past 25 years. Being part of the core founding team, he has provided the much-needed stability and thought leadership that has helped Quest grow into one of the larger PMS providers in India.

Aniruddha Sarkar | 3-star rated FM

CIO | 17 yrs Experience | 5 yrs at current firm

Past Experience: IIFL AMC (FM)

Aniruddha joined Quest in Feb-2020, after a successful stint of over 10 years at IIFL across various roles including Fund Manager for the MF & PMS and as a research analyst.

Fee Structure

Fee Structure Fee
Fixed Fee Structure 2.5
Variable Fee Structures
Exit Fees 1% (1yr)

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