In recent weeks, a wave of public mutual fund companies has been conducting extensive research into publicly listed companies, aiming to uncover potential investment targets for the upcoming yearAs the end of the calendar year approaches, fund managers are keenly interested in identifying assets that may lead to profitable returns.

According to a report from a financial journal, the sectors that have captured the most attention from these firms are those linked to the semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics industriesWith the rapid advancement of AI computational power, there is a strong expectation that the financial performance of related publicly listed companies will continue to accelerate in the coming yearOne fund manager expressed optimism about this outlook, suggesting that the robust growth in AI capabilities signals exciting prospects for investment.

In a broader context, the continuing popularity of the "platform economy" and "intellectual property" (IP) driven sectors has also drawn considerable interest from fund companies

For instance, Xie Yi, a fund manager at Nuode Fund, emphasized that the current market is marked by a diversification of main investment themes, contrasting with the prior focus on high-dividend stocks and small capsEmerging consumer sectors such as IP derivatives, creative cultural tourism, medical beauty, and digital gaming are expected to provide significant growth opportunities as consumer preferences evolve.

As of December 20th, the most active fund companies in terms of research engagements were Bosera, Wu Guo, Guotai Junan, and China Asset Management, conducting 52, 45, 42, and 37 investigations respectivelyThe Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Technology Innovation Board were particularly popular among these fund groups, indicating a heightened interest in companies listed within these frameworks.

Among the companies under investigation, four stood out with over a hundred research inquiries: Weigao Medical, with 136 inquiries; Tom Cat, receiving 125; Yifang Biomedical-U, with 110; and Leyard, attracting 109. These companies are at the forefront of industry interest, showcasing a mix of stability and growth that appeals to institutional investors.

Focusing on the top three most monitored stocks by the aforementioned fund companies reveals a pattern: Bosera Fund shows keen interest in Runbang Co., SiQuan New Materials, and Harbin Pharmaceutical; while Wu Guo Fund's interests are centered on Hualian Holdings, Suning Global, and Slin Capital

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Guotai Junan has its sights set on Magu Technology, Amway, and Jialian TechnologyLastly, China Asset Management is primarily focusing on Yidao Information, Northeast Pharmaceutical, and Doctor Glasses.

The analysis of these favored stocks reveals that not only are these companies being heavily invested in by their respective fund managers, but they are also attracting significant investment from othersFor example, Harbin Pharmaceutical's top ten shareholders from the third quarter included substantial holdings from various funds, indicating a robust alignment in investment strategies among multiple asset managers.

On another front, certain stocks have also attracted substantial foreign institutional holdings in the third quarter, with major players like Morgan Stanley International, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan appearing among the top shareholders of Doctor Glasses.

When it comes to the specific sectors gaining traction, the semiconductor, artificial intelligence, and robotics industries have emerged as the focal points of interest

Notably, several fund companies, including Zhongou Fund, Wu Guo Fund, and Guotai Junan, have all shown interest in Tom Cat, an IP company that also develops AI-driven robotsIn addition, a total of 29 fund companies have investigated Guoxin Technology, a chip design firm specializing in domestic, self-controlled embedded CPU technology, reflecting a collective optimism surrounding these industries.

Not staying behind, AiFei-U, a firm focused on industrial robotics, has also garnered attention, with 29 fund companies keen on exploring its potentialThe performance metrics of these companies have remained promising, showcasing steady growth amidst market shiftsFor instance, Guoxin Technology reported a significant rise in custom chip service revenues, achieving over $3 million and surpassing previous years' growth rates.

Interestingly, AiFei-U has also demonstrated clear upward trends in their industrial robot shipment volumes, reporting over a 20% increase compared to the previous year in certain segments, particularly in electronics manufacturing and general industry, showcasing the significant sway of market demand in driving their success.

Tom Cat, leveraging its vast user base from its family of IPs, has thrived in the advertising sector through partnerships with major players like Google and Meta, securing high-quality advertising contracts benefiting from the global digital marketing trend.

Considering future trends, the investment outlook remains optimistic particularly in sectors poised for growth, such as those benefiting from government policies or cyclical rebounds

Fund managers like Shi Junfeng from Debang Fund have highlighted opportunities within low price-to-book ratio industries which have a recovery potential, primarily due to an increasingly supportive regulatory environment and inherent demand for reform.

Xie Yi of Nuode Fund expressed keen interest in emerging consumer areas that align with the spending habits of younger demographicsHe suggested that while traditional spending may have shifted, the actual purchasing power of younger consumers remains substantial, simply reallocating towards sectors such as IP derivatives and creative solutions.

As analysts from various fund management teams weigh their options, many suggest identifying industries with stable economic conditions, especially in advanced manufacturing and technology sectorsInsights from institutions like Invesco Great Wall’s research team further emphasize opportunities stemming from favorable supply-demand dynamics and supportive government initiatives aimed at debt reduction through policies encouraging mergers and acquisitions.

The sharp decline in interest rates also opens the door for further investment in dividend-oriented sectors, with a clear need to monitor liquidity conditions to sustain the vitality of small to mid-cap market styles moving forward.

Various perspectives from firms like Morgan Stanley Fund highlight several critical focal points: Firstly, the rapid advancements in AI applications that have driven notable growth in performance in listed companies