EPISODE · Jun 11, 2026 · 41 MIN
The Case For Owning Fewer, Better Stocks with Stephen Arnold
from Equity Mates Investing Podcast
Most investors spend their time looking for the next stock to buy, Stephen Arnold, Founder and CIO of Aoris, argues that great investing starts by knowing what not to own. In this episode, he explains Aoris’ quality-first approach, why the fund avoids entire sectors like banks, mining and biotech, and how a concentrated portfolio of just 15 businesses helps them focus on companies with durable advantages, strong cultures and long runways for growth.In this episode:00:00 – Why Aoris runs a concentrated portfolio02:22 – What “quality-first value investing” means07:52 – Red flags and Aoris’ no-go zones09:29 – Compass Group: The world's largest contract caterer18:29 – Cintas: The boring compounder hiding in plain sight25:06 – The importance of defining what not to buy27:13 – Why Aoris avoids banks, mining, biotech and more35:19 – Why only 15 stocks and lessons for investorsThanks to Aoris for sponsoring this episode and helping to keep our content free. The Aoris International Fund is available as an Active ETF, via the following ASX listed products: ASX: BAOR: Aoris International Fund Active ETF (Class B) & ASX: DAOR: Aoris International Fund Active ETF (Class D) (Hedged).Visit the Aoris Website to download the Owners Manual - https://www.aoris.com.au/ETFs and Stocks mentioned: Compass Group (LSE: CPG), Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)———Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a messageAnd come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.———Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis PointsListen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)Watch on YouTubeRead the monthly email———Looking for some of our favourite research tools?Download our free Basics of ETF handbookOr our free 4-step stock checklistFind company information on TIKRResearch reports from Good ResearchTrack your portfolio with Sharesight———This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Most investors spend their time looking for the next stock to buy, Stephen Arnold, Founder and CIO of Aoris, argues that great investing starts by knowing what not to own. In this episode, he explains Aoris’ quality-first approach, why the fund avoids entire sectors like banks, mining and biotech, and how a concentrated portfolio of just 15 businesses helps them focus on companies with durable advantages, strong cultures and long runways for growth.In this episode:00:00 – Why Aoris runs a concentrated portfolio02:22 – What “quality-first value investing” means07:52 – Red flags and Aoris’ no-go zones09:29 – Compass Group: The world's largest contract caterer18:29 – Cintas: The boring compounder hiding in plain sight25:06 – The importance of defining what not to buy27:13 – Why Aoris avoids banks, mining, biotech and more35:19 – Why only 15 stocks and lessons for investorsThanks to Aoris for sponsoring this episode and helping to keep our content free. The Aoris International Fund is available as an Active ETF, via the following ASX listed products: ASX: BAOR: Aoris International Fund Active ETF (Class B) & ASX: DAOR: Aoris International Fund Active ETF (Class D) (Hedged).Visit the Aoris Website to download the Owners Manual - https://www.aoris.com.au/ETFs and Stocks mentioned: Compass Group (LSE: CPG), Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)———Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a messageAnd come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.———Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we’ve got you covered.Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)We’re particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis PointsListen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)Watch on YouTubeRead the monthly email———Looking for some of our favourite research tools?Download our free Basics of ETF handbookOr our free 4-step stock checklistFind company information on TIKRResearch reports from Good ResearchTrack your portfolio with Sharesight———This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes only. Any advice is general advice and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs. If unsure, speak to a financial professional. The host of this podcast and their guests may have positions in the companies mentioned. Equity Mates Media is part of the Betashares Group but maintains editorial independence and operates under Australian Financial Services licence 540697. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Case For Owning Fewer, Better Stocks with Stephen Arnold
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