A picture with threads in different colors.

Thematic investing

Themes that are moving the world – and the markets

Find out how you can systematically integrate thematic investments into your portfolio.

Thematic Investing: Adapt and thrive

Do you like scoring wins based on know-how that other investors don’t have (yet)? Thematic Investing allows you to invest in themes that are near and dear to you.

We provide you with the needed support so your favorite theme can become more than just a matter of the heart, but rather a chance to adapt an thrive.

Smart Farming & FoodTech
Smart Healthcare
Robotics
E-Commerce

These are just a few of the major structural trends that could change our everyday lives: changes that are coming about due to the rapid progress that our society is going through. In short, these changes are affecting every dimension of our lives: environmental, demographic, socio-economic, as well as behavioral.

These profound changes won’t spare the economy and the corporations within it. Accordingly, many investors are asking themselves:

“Who will benefit from these changes?”

The main goal of Thematic Investing is to anticipate changes and take advantage of them, in order to identify today possible structural winners of tomorrow – as early as possible.

The greatest success beckons companies that are winning with flexibility

Find out which thematic investments we can offer you at Vontobel, and what market observations and considerations we incorporate into the selection of thematic equities.

Investment Outlook 2024

A woman is holding a compass in her hand, with a snowy landscape in the background.

Staying ahead, reaching beyond

Our experts present the Vontobel baseline scenario for economic trends in 2024. Join us to analyze the latest economic data and set the course for your investments. How should investors prepare for a recession – and why can’t we exclude one?

Thematic Investments in focus

A swimming pool with water where people swim in it

Wellness & Health

A growing industry, influenced by demographic changes, technology trends and many other developments. The expected growth of the industry is currently at 5–10% p.a. Our investment idea covers five areas that shape the wellness and health industry (Fitness & Sports, Nutrition, SleepTech, Beauty and Travel & Entertainment).

Aqua

Mankind’s water consumption is increasing inexorably. But how much water is actually of drinking quality? Drinking water is an irreplaceable commodity – but replenishing used water is only possible to a limited extent. Innovative solutions are more in demand than ever to tap, treat, secure, and purify water.

A man takes care of his farm with a drone

Smart Farming & FoodTech

The world’s population is expected to grow to 9.8 billion people by the year 2050. With this growth will come an increase in demand for food. It is forecasted that to feed the world’s people, we will need to produce 70 percent more food than we do today. This fact poses major challenges for agricultural techniques around the world. Especially when you consider that an increase in yield will have to be possible despite having less arable land to work with, and increasingly limited water resources.

A human hand and a robotic hand hold their fists together

The Era of Robotics

Companies from many different sectors are pondering investments in robotics and automation technology. The goal of these investments is to increase productivity and offset higher costs that result from wage increases. For quite some time already, the focus has moved beyond traditional industrial production and supply chain segments; automation has also begun in the service sector, whether it is by exploiting Big Data or via AI (Artificial Intelligence). Robotics could affect more and more areas of life.

Cloud Computing

Data processing in “the Cloud” has become an engine of innovation, efficiency and globalization. Data, apps and computing power can be accessed today from anywhere in the world, all in a matter of seconds. This instant availability is the key to allowing visionary ideas such as the Internet of Things to take shape. Seen in this light, Cloud Computing functions across industries as an enabling technology that increases performance, productivity and reliability, lowers costs and makes services scalable. Industry giants such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google are setting the benchmark in this arena. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are likely to gain innovative capability and agility through Cloud Computing as well.

A big city at night with lots of billboards

NextGen Brands

Strong brands are intangible assets that enable a company to achieve a dominant market position. Brands can influence consumers’ purchasing decisions. The broader the competitive offer, the sooner a brand can successfully shine like a beacon, attracting buyers in the vast sea of confusing options. This applies to the brand-loving Millennial generation – and even more so to Generation Z, who became familiar with brands as catalysts for a new sense of togetherness. “NextGen Brands” have even managed to elevate drinks, snacks and gadgets such as smartphones to “cult” items – or to be more precise: to “culture” itself. Companies with a strong brand can often outperform the broader market. This is because brands cannot easily be copied by competitors and, once established, are associated with relatively low costs. This market position could lead to above-average returns.

Smart Healthcare

Digitization is also revolutionizing the healthcare system and should increase efficiency on the one hand while reducing costs on the other. Microsensors in pill form; medical practices networked together with hospitals, pharmacies and health insurance companies; robots performing surgical operations; health apps and wearables – all these are just some of the examples we will see in this arena. The digital healthcare system will have to respond to the pressing challenges of our time: population growth, higher life expectancy, the growth of emerging countries, and a global pandemic.

Megatrends

The conceptual base for thematic investments is our proven Megatrends Model. They allow us to think outside the box when looking at individual thematic areas. In turn, it is possible to systematically grasp interrelationships and dependencies.

Meet the 4 Megatrends

A white and black controller of a game console on a blue background

E-Sports and Gaming

The movie and music businesses are no longer the alpha and omega in the entertainment industry. Today, e-sports and video gaming are setting the direction the industry is headed in. E-sports professionals are celebrated as modern gladiators, earning prize money in the millions – and could soon even be bearers of the Olympic torch. In short: the economic potential around this new branch of the entertainment industry is huge, as soon smartphones become potential gaming devices, meaning that 4 billion people will be carrying one around in their pockets. Trend: up, sharply.

Impact for Good

How can the power of the market be used to drive positive developments forward, while not losing sight of returns? This is exactly what we are making possible for investors with the “Impact for Good” theme. We are identifying four core areas – health, poverty, environment and education – and investing in companies that are working reliably on solutions and helping people in these areas.

A row of yellow taxis are stuck in a traffic jam

Disruptors

Airbnb, Uber, and Amazon – these three disruptors have fundamentally altered established industries. Other companies will follow their example. What so-called disruptors have in common is that they respond successfully to changing consumer demands. With a technological lead and new service offerings, such innovative companies create new markets and target groups.

E-Commerce

The triumphant advance of online shopping does not seem to be stopping. Accelerated by the Coronavirus pandemic, it has now also reached the generation of older retired persons – the “silver agers”. Online shopping platforms have brought about a change in consumer behavior among the broad population, because they have succeeded in breaking down barriers to entry. They no longer acquire potential customers only at the local level, from around the world – digitally. In addition, the e-commerce sector understands how to adapt other digital trends to ist own purposes, for example in the area of logistics. Amazon now offers same-day delivery for some items, for instance. This is only possible through effective inventory management, a high degree of automation, and quick responsiveness.

An image with three screenshots of the volt app by Vontobel

Vontobel Volt® – the app solution for thematic investing

Invest in megatrends according to your convictions – risk-monitored and managed by experts. With volt invest, you can individually design your profile or choose a predefined expert portfolio according to your own preferences and convictions. Create the portfolio that best suits you.

Did you know?

Diversification is the basis

Thematic investments are suitable for building on an already diversified portfolio. However, they are less suitable if you are only initiating diversification.

Find out why

Your way to our thematic investments

Give us a call

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

+41 58 283 63 02

Personal consulting

Fill out the contact form to request a callback or an appointment.

Invest via app

Select your own investment themes with Vontobel Volt®.

Invest now