Kevin Burkett, partner and portfolio manager at Burkett Asset Management Ltd., oversees more than $500 million in assets with a focus on businesses that generate durable revenue streams and recurring demand. According to the source report, his balanced portfolio, split roughly 60-40 between stocks and bonds, returned 13.9 per cent over the past 12 months and has delivered three- and five-year annualized returns of 10.9 per cent and 8.6 per cent, respectively. Burkett has recently been adding to positions in Constellation Software and Colliers during AI-related weakness,while exiting InterContinental Hotels Group in mid-April at US$147.69 a share.

The $500M portfolio's 60-40 mix that beat benchmarks

Burkett's long-term, value-oriented approach relies on companies with strong balance sheets and the ability to compound cash flows, particularly in consumer discretionary, industrials, and select technology sectors . The firm's balanced allocation, currently at approximately 60% equities and 40% fixed income, has produced consistent returns that outpace many peers. as the source notes, Burkett manages over $500 million and believes his strategy insulates the portfolio from short-term market volatility driven by headlines.

This performance comes during a period when many active managers have struggled to match index returns. The 13.9% one-year gain and the multi-year annualized figures suggest that the firm's discipline of avoiding sectors reliant on short-term predictions has paid off. yet the strategy is not without risks: a heavy tilt toward cyclical industrials could expose the fund if a recession materializes.

Why Burkett bought Colliers in March and ignored the AI panic

Burkett began buying Colliers in March and has continued adding on weakness, despite the stock dropping on AI-related concerns. Most investors view Colliers as a real estate brokerage tied to transaction volumes, but according to the source, Burkett sees a shift into recurring, higher-margin services like investment management, engineering, and outsourcing.. He argues that buying and selling investment properties requires a human element to match buyers and sellers and handle confidential information—a role he believes AI cannot easily replace.

The question remains : will AI eventually automate parts of commercial real estate transactions? Burkett is betting that the niche, relationship-driven nature of the business protects it. however, the source does not provide data on how large the recurring revenue portion of Colliers' business has become relative to traditional brokerage fees.

The Fanuc doubling: a 2015 conviction play paying off

Burkett Asset Management has held Fanuc , a Japan-based robtoics company, since the firm's inception in 2015.. According to the source, the stock has doubled over the past year alone, and the firm views Fanuc as a global leader in automation and industrial robotics, particularly as a supplier to chip manufacturers. The firm believes Fanuc's products are hard to replace, giving it durable pricing power.

This holding underscores Burkett's willingness to buy and hold for years. The context of global re-shoring and automation demand supports the thesis. Yet the open question is whether rising competition from Chinese and European robotics firms will compress Fanuc's margins over the next five years—a risk the source does not address.

InterContinental Hotels sold at $147.69: a bet against business travel recovery

In mid-April, Burkett sold all shares of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) at US$147.69. The source quotes him citing a deteriorating outlook for global travel due to rising consumer costs and increased online communication reducing the need for business travel. IHG owns chains such as InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn, which are heavily exposed to business and leisure travelers alike.

This exit comes as many travel stocks have recovered strongly post-pandemic. Burkett's move suggests he believes the secular trend toward virtual meetings will permanently weaken demand for hotel stays. However, the source does not specify whether the sale was driven purely by macro concerns or if IHG-specific issues like competition from Airbnb played a role. Investors watching the travel sector may want to monitor upcoming earnings for signs of a slowdown in business bookings.