Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund – Commentary – February 2022
Feb 28th, 2022
Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund – Commentary – February 2022
February 28, 2021
Pieces in place for an uncommon buying opportunity
The global sell-off that commenced in January, steamrolled into February, taking all major indexes down double digits for the year before a late-month rally cut those losses. Beset by stagflation fears, only commodities provided a safe haven, and there was no flight to quality in bonds as rates continued to make multiyear highs and the yield curve continued to flatten, doing the heavy lifting for a behind-the-curve Fed. Despite the flight from equities, the Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) dug in and held its ground versus the liquidation pressure facing the sector.
Data: Bloomberg, concept: Next Edge Capital Corp. as of February 2022.
Commodities were not the only safe haven in February after all
In a remarkable feat during the unrelenting volatility and liquidation pressure markets were under, the Fund’s five largest US holdings appreciated during February. Three of them by double-digit percentages as well. It turns out there was a flight-to-quality of sorts. A flight to the sort of companies we most favour investing in for the long term for substantial multi-bagger returns over the duration of a complete market cycle.
Specifically, midcap Biotech and Tech-Bio companies either in Phase 3 or early commercialization, that are well-funded, have overcome important clinical and/or regulatory risks, address an unmet need with best-in-class therapeutics or technology, and project substantial revenue growth in years ahead regardless of what the economy dishes out. Check, check, and check all the boxes on our best-performing holdings in February. The market may also be tipping its hand to who the new cycle leaders might be when the dust settles.
Data: Bloomberg, February 2022.
For February 2022, the Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund Class A Units declined by -1.52%, and the Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund Class F Units by -1.44% vs -3.98% for the S&P Biotech Index (^SPSIBI) and -4.11% for the large-cap weighted Nasdaq Biotech Index (^NBI). The Fund performed better on a relative basis versus the indices due to strong performance in a few of its large holdings plus the contribution of Index Put spread hedges, which were rolled down and out to bank some of the gains.
Positive Divergences Emerge
The percentage of the +300 companies in the Nasdaq Biotech Index (^NBI) trading above their 200-day moving average, or the definition of a bull market, declined to the rarified deeply oversold reading below 10% in late January. Despite biotech indexes subsequently declining as much as a further -10% lower during February, this reading did NOT make a new low but instead dug in to stay above that January reading.
That is the sort of Tell that surfaces amidst the noise of the selloff that telegraphs that a meaningful low is in the making. It accounts for why our five largest US holdings remained bid during the nadir of the February selloff.
Data: Bloomberg; Concept: Next Edge Capital Corp. Data is as of March 18, 2022.
Discussion of Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund
While our largest US holdings advanced, the small-cap positions declined sharply, offsetting that benefit, resulting in US weight being down slightly from 71% to 70%.
Despite Canadian positions being a significant drag on performance during February, with all positions except one declining, three of them by double-digit percent, the weight was actually unchanged due to initiating a new position in an Alzheimer’s diagnostic company. We watched and waited until the company declined over 60% during the past nine months and had cashed up through funding with insider buying. It is now significantly de-risked, and embarking on the commercialization of the breakthrough FDA-approved novel AI-based diagnostic.
Cash rose slightly to 5%. Additional capital would enable the Fund to position in other promising companies priced at compelling and uncommon valuations that set up for favourable long-term risk/reward.
Source: RBC Investor and Treasury Services Inc., Next Edge Capital Corp.
Important Notes
1. Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund returns are net of all fees and expenses associated with Class A Units and Class F Units charged from December 21, 2020. Returns for 2021 and 2022 are unaudited. Therefore, performance statistics containing 2021 and 2022 figures shown in this material are subject to final confirmation. The historical annualized rates of return for the Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund Class A Units as of February 28, 2022 are 1 yr -38.60%, 3 yr N/A, 5 yr N/A, 10 yr N/A, and CARR -17.64%; for Class F Units are 1 yr -37.92%, 3 yr N/A, 5 yr N/A, 10 yr N/A, and CARR -16.79%.
2. Part Year
* Part Month start date December 21, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
The “Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund” or “Fund” means the “Next Edge Biotech and Life Sciences Opportunities Fund”. Capitalized terms not defined in this report are defined as set forth in the prospectus of the Fund (the “Prospectus”). This communication is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, an invitation to make an investment in the Fund nor does it constitute a public offering to sell the Fund or any other products described herein. Applications for the Fund will only be considered on the terms of the Prospectus. Each purchaser of the units (the “Units”) may have statutory or contractual rights of action under certain circumstances as disclosed in the Prospectus. Please review the provisions of the applicable securities legislation for particulars of these rights.
Potential investors should note that alternative investments can involve significant risks and the value of an investment may go down as well as up. There is no guarantee of trading performance and past or projected performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should review the Prospectus in its entirety for a complete description of the Fund, its risks, and consult their registered dealers before making an investment.
Any descriptions or information involving investment process or strategies is provided for illustration purposes only, may not be fully indicative of any present or future investments, may be changed at the discretion of the Portfolio Manager and are not intended to reflect performance. The following does not purport to be a complete summary of all of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund. Please see the Fund’s Prospectus for a complete listing and description of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund. The Fund is generally exposed to the following risks: Biotechnology Industry Risk; Borrowing Risk; Counterparty Risk; Credit Risk; Cybersecurity Risk; Derivatives Risk; Equity Securities Risk; ETF Risk; Foreign Currency Risk; Foreign Securities Risk; Interest Rate Risk; Legislation and Litigation Risk; Leverage Risk; Liquidity Risk; Multiple Class Risk; Options Risk; Price Volatility Risk; Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Transactions and Securities Lending Risk; Short Selling Risk; Stock Market Risk; Substantial Securityholder Risk and Tax Risk.
The Fund is not a trust company and does not carry on business as a trust company and, accordingly, the Fund is not registered under the trust company legislation of any jurisdiction. Units of the Fund are not “deposits” within the meaning of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act (Canada) are not insured under provisions of that Act or any other legislation.
The information provided herein is for information purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation, public offering, advice or recommendations to buy or sell interests in the Fund, the Portfolio, Units or any other Next Edge Product. Please refer to the Fund’s prospectus for more information on the Fund as any information in this Report is qualified in its entirety by the disclosure therein.
The information contained in this material is subject to change without notice and Next Edge Capital Corp. will not be held liable for any inaccuracies or misprints. The Fund has not been and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any state of the United States. The Fund may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons.
Opinions expressed are those of the author as of the date of this report, are subject to change and may not reflect the opinion of all members of the Company. Some statements contained in this material concerning goals, strategies, outlook or other non-historical matters may be “forward-looking statements” and are based on current indicators and expectations at the date of their publication. We undertake no obligation to update or revise them. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied in the statements.