IoT will connect everything from your car to your smart thermostat, to even your outdoor voice-activated grill shortly. The emerging IoT will provide connectivity to a variety of devices, such as sensors, home appliances, and consumer electronics. Many companies are investing heavily into this megatrend and developing exciting products for this tech evolution.

1. Presented by:
By Wade Dawson
Wade Dawson is an American living in Johan-
nesburg and is the Africa Regional Manager for
Austen Morris Associates. If you would like more
offshore investment tips go to www.austenmorris.
com or follow us on Linked In. Wade can also be
reached by e-mail on wade.d@austenmorris.com
or follow him on twitter @wadedawson4
T
here are many exciting global
investment themes creating
incredible change and invest-
ment opportunities in the market
today. The Internet of Things (IoT), cloud
computing, data analytics, biotech, disrup-
tive technology, robotics, cyber security,
and social networking are some of the tech
trends transforming our lives. Lets look in
detail at just one of these.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
The IoT will connect everything from your
car, to your smart thermostat, to even your
outdoor voice-activated grill in the near
future. The emerging IoT will provide
connectivity to a variety of devices, such as
sensors, home appliances, and consumer
electronics. Many companies are investing
heavily into this megatrend and developing
exciting products for this tech evolution.
IBM has just invested $3 billion into the
IoT. For GE, the IoT which the company
calls the “Industrial Internet” is a massive
growth engine for their business. There are
many cyber security companies that will
also benefit. Palo Alto Networks (PANW)
and Cyber Ark Software (CYBR) are two
leaders worth mentioning. With connected
devices set to triple to 50 billion by 2020,
many chip makers will benefit tremendous-
ly. Skyworks Solutions (SWKS), a maker of
RF technology will see rising demand for
their smartphone chips. Skyworks is cur-
rently up 30% year-to-date and 255% over
the last three years.
Big Brands are also Betting Big
If you’re planning to buy the Apple Watch,
or you can’t seem to get the Frozen lyrics
Let It Go out of your mind, you might want
to consider buying Apple or Disney shares.
These two companies are inextricably in-
tertwined into everyday life for many of us.
These brands serve as an example of how
adding international investments to your
portfolio will allow you to profit from global
diversification, potentially save you money
in capital gains, hedge currency risk, and
ultimately help you earn solid returns.
Apple (APPL) has risen 119% over the
last two years, and 20,603% since inception.
Apple trades at a discount at 17 times earn-
ings, versus the S&P 500 which is trading
at 19 times earnings. Apple is already up
15% year-to-date. I feel many analysts are
underestimating the importance of Apple’s
focus on the IoT, including Apple Pay and
the launch of the Apple Watch. The founder
of my company is already eyeing one of the
Apple luxury watches, and I think many
others out there are also.
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) is a global enter-
tainment company with shares rising 15%
year-to-date, 78% in the last two years and
57,893% since going public in 1957. Disney’s
theme parks continue to bring in impressive
revenue. Disney has recently invested $1
billion into a “magical” IoT wristband that
will handle all park transactions and help
personalise a child’s Disney experience so
that Mickey can even greet them by name,
for example. The Star Wars trilogy, the
Marvel franchise, and creation of new fran-
chises like Frozen, with multi-year sequels
planned, will also continue to make this
company a solid bet.
The IoT is hardly a niche investment
play. If you’re looking to invest into it, there
are plenty of ways to profit offshore. It
shouldn't be much of a surprise that large
global brands are betting big on the Internet
of Things market. Why shouldn’t you?
GLOBAL INVESTMENT TRENDS
The Internet of Things connects devices such as everyday consumer objects
and industrial equipment onto a network, enabling information gathering and
management of these devices via software to increase efficiency, enable new
services, or achieve other health, safety or environmental benefits.
WHAT IS THE INTERNET OF THINGS?
Smart Meter Technology
Smart Traffic Lights
Smart Parking Meters
Electric Vehicle Charging
Real-Time analysis
Safety
Vehicle diagnostics
Infotainment and
Navigation Fleet Management
CONNECTED CARS
CONNECTED CITIES
Smart Thermostat
Smart appliances
HVAC Systems Security
Smart Lighting
Entertainment Systems
CONNECTED HOMES
Real-Time Analysis
Factory Automation
Robotics
Supply Chain Efficiency
INDUSTRIAL INTERNET
Fitness Bands
Smart Watches
Smart Glasses
Action Cameras
WEARABLES
Image sourced: Goldman Sachs