Innovation or illusion? How to spot the real disruptors (and 4 ASX ideas for your trouble)
We all love a compelling growth story, but how do you tell whether you're buying substance or sizzle?
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most exciting - and sometimes most dangerous - areas of the market: innovation.
It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot, but how do you tell the difference between a company with a slick marketing pitch and one that’s genuinely building something transformative?
To unpack this, Livewire's Chris Conway is joined by Steve Johnson from Forager and Martin Hickson from 1851 Capital.
Johnson and Hickson share what innovation means to them, the traits that set true disruptors apart, and the red flags that suggest hype over substance. They also cover how to assess competitive moats, and what metrics matter when profitability hasn't quite yet arrived.
Of course, it wouldn't be an episode of Buy Hold Sell without some stock ideas, so the guests each share an ASX innovator that is underrated and the market might be missing, as well as the best innovator across any market cap segment.
Please note this episode was filmed on 10 September 2025.
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Buy Hold Sell: 5 ASX innovators with massive potential
It's September, and that means football finals - time to separate the contenders from the pretenders, as they say.
It's no different when hunting for opportunities on the ASX, particularly when it comes to the innovators - those companies pushing boundaries, reshaping industries, and trying to become the market leaders of tomorrow.
But as every investor knows, backing innovation isn’t as simple as spotting a good idea. For every success story like Pro Medicus or Life360, there are countless others that never quite make the leap, leaving investors nursing losses.
So how do you tell the difference between a genuine innovator and a pretender? And what signals should investors look for when trying to back the next big thing?
To answer those questions, Lvewire's Chris Conway is joined by Martin Hickson from 1851 Capital and Steve Johnson from Forager. Together, they run the ruler over a handful of ASX innovators.
For good measure, each guest shares a disruptor they are backing that has massive upside potential - provided they can nail it.
Please note this episode was filmed on 27 August 2025.
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Buy Hold Sell: 3 painful results and 2 standout winners
Reporting season already feels like a lifetime ago, given how fast markets are moving these days, but some results - both good and bad - will have a lasting impact.
A great set of results and positive share price reaction can reset a company's trajectory, both operationally and in the minds of investors.
Suddenly, a middling company with a middling share price can look like a world-beater - though with that comes greater expectations. On the other hand, market darlings can turn into pumpkins almost in an instant, with momentum and share prices derailed in equal measure.
In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire's Anna Dadic speaks with Ben Rundle (Hayborough) and Joe McCarthy (Elston) to unpack some of the most painful results from the season.
For balance, they also each highlight a standout winner that they believe can kick on over the next 12 months.
This episode of Buy Hold Sell was filmed 27th August, 2025.
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Buy Hold Sell: Reporting season winners, losers and 2 ASX stocks to watch
Reporting season is always full of surprises, and this one didn’t disappoint.
Some companies smashed expectations, sending share prices soaring, while others stumbled badly and left investors wondering what went wrong. And then, of course, there were the quiet achievers, delivering solid results without making much noise.
To help us cut through the chaos, Livewire's Anna Dadic is joined by Ben Rundle from Hayborough Investment Partners and Joe McCarthy from Elston Asset Management.
Together, they examine the key themes from the season, including some of the best, worst, and under-the-radar results, and - perhaps most importantly - whether they are making any portfolio adjustments.
Strap in, there's plenty to cover.
Please note this episode was filmed on 27 August 2025.
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Buy Hold Sell: 5 solid ASX earnings that slipped past the headlines
While the aggregate numbers suggest this August reporting season hasn’t been as volatile as previous ones—at least when looking at average share price moves on beats and misses—several big-name stocks have experienced outsized reactions.
CSL, Woolworths and James Hardie were punished, while Coles, Brambles, and REA Group fared far better. Such sharp swings among large-cap “reliable” names have made the season feel more unpredictable than usual, particularly since these are the stocks investors typically buy for stability.
They are also companies that dominate headlines and, understandably, get a lot of coverage. However, that also means that there are likely many companies beyond the headlines that delivered solid results, which the market might have overlooked.
In this episode, Livewire’s Anna Dadic is joined by Ben Rundle from Hayborough Investment Partners and Joe McCarthy from Elston Asset Management to run the ruler over three ASX names that quietly delivered strong results.
For good measure, they each nominate another stock that may have flown under the radar —one they believe offers a compelling buying opportunity.
Please note this episode was recorded on 27 August 2025.
Buy Hold Sell is a fast-paced business and investing podcast, bringing you stock tips and investment ideas every Friday and every second Monday. Join us as we quiz Australia’s top fund managers and investment analysts on a range of local and global stocks, as well as ETFs. Learn about the forces moving equities markets, the potholes you should avoid, and the companies going from strength to strength - all in 10 minutes or less. Whether you are new to investing or a seasoned professional, this podcast will get you thinking differently about markets.
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