Emanuel Datt
Boutique Australian equity investment manager Datt Capital has announced that its Datt Capital Absolute Return Fund and Datt Capital Small Companies fund have been added to the Mason Stevens Investor Directed Portfolio Service (IDPS) platform.
The Mason Stevens IDPS is widely used by financial advisers seeking to construct diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes. The addition of Datt Capital’s funds, which exhibit low correlation to their peers and benchmarks, enhances advisers’ ability to include differentiated, active Australian equity strategies as part of a balanced and diversified investment offering.
“This inclusion broadens access to our high-conviction strategies for both advisers and wholesale investors,” said Emanuel Datt, Chief Investment Officer of Datt Capital. “It is the third major platform listing this year, following Netwealth and HUB24. We’re pleased to offer our investment expertise to a growing number of advisers and their clients nationwide.”
The Datt Capital Absolute Return Fund, launched in August 2018, seeks to deliver consistent absolute returns across the economic cycle, with a strong focus on capital preservation and downside protection. As at 31 May 2025, the Fund has delivered a net annualised return of 18.07%.
The Datt Capital Small Companies Fund, launched in October 2023, aims to generate alpha from ASX-listed small caps (ex-ASX 100) using the same disciplined, research-driven approach. As at 31 May 2025, the Fund has returned 32.08% annualised net of fees since inception.
“Australian equities remain a long-term wealth creation engine, having delivered an average annual return of 9.6 per cent over the past three decades, outperforming residential property, fixed income, and cash. Our funds are grounded in this belief, with an emphasis on capital preservation, downside protection and asymmetric upside,” Datt said.
Datt also highlighted the appeal of the small-cap sector in the current market environment, noting that innovation and operational agility are key drivers of growth.
“Each dollar earned by a smaller company has an outsized impact, especially when scaling from a lower base. For example, Monash IVF (ASX: MVF), despite recent operational challenges, retains a 20% market share and holds strategic long-term value. We’ve recently taken a position in Monash based on our conviction in its recovery and upside potential.”
He added that ongoing M&A activity, particularly from offshore acquirers, continues to highlight the value and opportunity within the underappreciated Australian small cap universe.