Desert Island Investor

About the Podcast

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. The stocks that Mark reviews on this channel are from his real portfolio and not a 'virtual' portfolio, so these are genuine win-some, lose-some stories. We hope that you'll also enjoy our regular feature 'Question in a Bottle' where Mark answers listeners' questions about investing

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Opinions contained in this communication represent those of PERL and/or our affiliates at the time of publication and PERL does not undertake to provide updates to any opinions or views expressed. PERL does not hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this communication, however, PERL’s directors, officers, employees, contractors and affiliates may hold a position,  and/or may perform services or solicit business from, any of the companies or related securities mentioned.

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Desert Island Investor

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark’s long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. The stocks that Mark reviews on this channel are from his real portfolio and not a ‘virtual’ portfolio, so these are genuine win-some, lose-some stories. We hope that you’ll also enjoy our regular feature ‘Question in a Bottle’ where Mark answers listeners’ questions about investing

Episode posted on 29/08/2023

Greggs seem to be going from strength to strength at the moment and this is one of Mark's core stocks. In this episode he talks in detail about Greggs and explains the compelling investment argument. Paul visits the new Greggs drive-through in Bolton to sample their cheese and onion bake. The 'Question in a Bottle' is from Jonathan Murphy who asks Mark, does director trading influence you?

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | SFX from Freesound (Creative Commons Attribution Licence): Waves: juskiddink, Corkscrew: YleArkisto. Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Greggs  | Greenhalgh's  | Carrs

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 06/08/2023

Smurfit Kappa is a FTSE 100 company and one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging in the world with operations in over 30 countries. In this episode of the podcast Mark explains why he has maintained faith in Smurfit Kappa through thick and thin. Paul points out that they even make a cardboard tent. The 'Question in a Bottle' this time is from David Raywood who asks Mark to explain, what is EBITDA?

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Smurfit Kappa Group | The Smurfit Kappa KARTENT (YouTube) | 10 Hours of Rain in a Cardboard Tent - Kent Survival (YouTube)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 19/07/2023

STRIX (KETL) is based on the Isle of Man and is the company behind a patented bi-metallic thermostatic switch which can be found in homes around the world. Applications include kettles, irons and toasters. Through a series of acquisitions the company has also diversified into water filtration products and a remarkable system that delivers chilled, ambient or boiling water from a single tap at the touch of a button. In this episode of the podcast Mark explains why despite being underwater with this investment he sees promise in the future of STRIX and has just added to his holding. The 'Question in a Bottle' this time is from David Raywood who asks Mark for his thoughts about the investment strategy of averaging down.

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Palma Bottled Water Statistics | UK Bottled Water Market value | All about electric kettles in America (Technology Connections YouTube channel)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 19/06/2023

On the basis that less is more, the quest for less CO2 emissions will undoubtedly require the production of more copper wiring and copper components as the world focuses on renewable energy and electric vehicles. In this episode Mark explains that although he is not a fan of mining stocks, he is nonetheless happy to have Central Asia Metals (CAML) in his portfolio. The 'Question in a Bottle' this time is from Amit Vedhara who asks Mark, what are your views on the Share your Voice campaign?

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 29/05/2023

Tesco supermarket (TSCO) is just one of several options if you're looking to add a large-cap retail business to your portfolio. In this episode of the podcast Mark explains why he invested in Tesco and why he has held that investment for so long. He breaks down his investment argument into 5 categories that will be useful for anyone thinking of investing in a supermarket. The 'Question in a Bottle' this time is from Nathan Sturgess who asks Mark, which investors do you respect the most and which books related to investing do you personally recommend?

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 07/05/2023

Jeremy McKeown has worked in the City for over 4 decades in both fund management and stockbroking. He is currently a well respected investment consultant and he also hosts the popular podcast 'In the company of Mavericks' on Spotify and other podcasting channels. In this episode Mark talks at length with Jeremy about his journey and Paul heads off to the mainland for some rest and recreation.

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik | Boat paddling SFX by: | Wind SFX by: | Nightclub SFX by:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Dowgate Wealth (website)  In the Company of Mavericks podcast (Spotify)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 16/04/2023

Will a cold stock warm up again? This is the question that Mark faced with his holding in Titon Holdings (TON), so he went off on a fact-finding mission to get a clearer picture of how his investment might pan out in the future. In this episode he reviews the stock, explains the challenges that the company was facing and reveals how the management is addressing those challenges. The 'Question in a Bottle' in this episode is from Declan who asks Mark, what is the PE Ratio?

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik | Barometer photo credit: CCBY. Collection of Aukland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, col 2748.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Titon Holdings (website)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 29/03/2023

In this episode of the podcast Mark reviews the latest addition to his portfolio, sustainable palm oil producer M.P. Evans (MPE). M.P. Evans Group PLC owns oil-palm plantations in Indonesia and also has an investment in a property company in Malaysia. Its shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange AIM. The 'Question in a Bottle' this time is from Mark's wife Elaine who asks Mark, if you are planning to be on that island for some time, how do I get hold of the money in your portfolio if something happens to you? :-)

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

M.P. Evans (website)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 07/03/2023

In this podcast, Mark provides his feedback from attending the Fundsmith Annual Shareholder's Meeting as well as the first Fundsmith regional event in Manchester. Fundsmith, under the guidance of legendary portfolio manager Terry Smith, invest in equities on a global basis and the company’s approach is to be a long-term investor in its chosen stocks. The 'Question in a Bottle' is from Matt Ellis who asks Mark, how did he start investing and what advice would he give to people who were thinking of starting their own portfolio today?

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Fundsmith (website)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 13/02/2023

In this episode, Mark provides his personal review of touch screen manufacturer Zytronic (ZYT) and talks about his experience of attending their 2023 AGM. Zytronic are global leaders in providing touch screen solutions that are durable and responsive. The Zytronics Group operates from three modern factories which are all located on a single site in the United Kingdom. The question in a bottle is from Mathew Ellis who asks Mark, when do you sell your stocks?

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

Zytronic (website)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.

Episode posted on 29/01/2023

In this first episode of his new podcast, Mark explains his basic philosophy about investing and also provides a personal review of a recent addition to his portfolio, MTI Wireless Edge (MWE). This Israeli company is a world leader in the development and production of antenna solutions for both military and commercial markets.

The Desert Island Investor podcast is a series of podcasts that document the experiences and strategies of private investor Mark Atkinson. Mark's long-term investments have enabled him to become financially independent and to retire at the comparatively early age of 53. This episode of the podcast is generously hosted by London City based analysts Progressive Equity Research.

Created by Mark Atkinson (LinkedIn) | Produced by Paul Kerin | Wave SFX by juskiddink (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Corkscrew SFX by YleArkisto (Freesound) Creative Commons Attribution Licence | Question in a Bottle illustration courtesy of Freepik.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/peaceful-morning
License code: L0TLWWJDT28JVSTX

In the Company of Mavericks (podcast)

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for general information only and the opinions expressed by Mark, his guests and the producers of the podcast do not constitute financial advice. Before purchasing financial products it is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional financial advisor.