UCT Cancer Research Trust - Equity Fund

Prepared for the Trust Finance Team | Mandate: R200,000 liquidity sleeve | Objective: capital-aware, inflation-resilient, risk-adjusted public market strategy

Pedlars Prototype

1. Executive summary

Mandate view

The proposed sleeve is positioned as a conservative growth allocation with liquidity, downside awareness, and a bias toward quality global equities rather than speculative cyclicals.

In the current rate and inflation regime, the priority is preserving optionality while still participating in earnings-led upside. The portfolio therefore leans toward diversified equity exposure, selective defensives, and a measured cash buffer.

Target return
CPI + 6%
Medium-term objective
Equity weight
68%
Risk-aware growth posture
Cash reserve
12%
Liquidity and flexibility
  • Remain invested, but avoid concentrated single-theme exposure.
  • Prioritise earnings durability over pure multiple expansion.
  • Keep enough cash to absorb volatility and capture dislocations.

Allocation snapshot

Indicative positioning for the liquidity sleeve

Base case Defensive Risk-on
68%
Equities
12%
Cash
8%
SA Inc
22%
Global tech
10%
Defensives
6%
Hedges

2. Macroeconomic and financial-market context

Macro lenses

Markets are navigating the overlap of easing inflation, still-restrictive policy, uneven growth, and higher sensitivity to fiscal narratives. The path remains constructive, but more selective than the broad-based post-crisis rallies of prior cycles.

Inflation Moderating, but services stickiness argues against aggressive easing assumptions.
Rates Front-end relief is possible, yet long-end volatility remains relevant for equity multiples.
SA backdrop Domestic assets remain valuation-sensitive to power, logistics, reform credibility, and the rand.
Global equities Leadership is narrow. Quality and cash generation still deserve a premium.

Risk heat map

Directional framing for the next 6 to 12 months

Theme
Status
Signal
Portfolio impact
US inflation
Stickycore disinflation slower
Mixeddata-dependent
Moderatewatch duration sensitivity
Fed path
Soft easing biascuts not urgent
Neutralpolicy still restrictive
Constructivesupports quality growth
Rand / ZAR
Volatileheadline-driven
Fragileelection and reform lens
Relevantglobal earners remain useful
Local equities
Selective valuenot broad beta
Opportunitybottom-up favoured
Measuredadd through quality names